CRINAN STORE AND
CHEESE FACTORY
(Family names: -
Markham; Bryden; Cook; Thompson; Beckett; Livingstone)
STORE
Built by Mr. Thomas Markham, when he became owner of the
cheese factory, it was across from the church – north of the present Gilbert
Livingstone home. It was a typical country store – sold groceries, clothing,
hardware, coal-oil, etc. It also contained a barber’s chair, with Mr. Dick
Markham the barber. Other families operating the store in later years were –
Wrights, Brydens and Cooks. There was a hall above the store where suppers
(especially oyster suppers) and dances were held. The store closed its doors.
CHEESE FACTORY
The cheese factory was north of the store and a
cheese-curing shed stood behind it. No one is sure of the date it was built. The
earliest recollection was of the Markham family coming from Ingersoll to manage
the cheese factory. They brought with them a herd of pure-bred Holstein cattle.
Most of the local cattle were Durham. At first the milk was gathered from
farmers, who had a milk stand at the laneway beside the mailbox, later, each
farmer delivered his own milk, and could refill his cans with whey, which was
held in a tank beside the factory. The whey was fed through a pipe from the factory
to a wooden tank. The hog farmers were especially pleased to get the whey for
pig feed. But eventually the Markham’s put in a large cream separator and the
whey was put through it, as it contained a small amount of butter fat.
Dissatisfaction grew among the farmers. Then they ran the cheese factory
themselves for a while – as a sort of co-operative. But soon the farmers began
distrusting one another, and the operation ceased.
Two of the cheese makers were a Mr. Thompson and one
Clarence Beckett.
Tweedsmuir histories – Aldborough Township, Crinan page
54-62, page 2 - "Courtesy of Elgin County Archives."
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