We all know that milk “does a body good”. Dairies were an essential part of making sure the milk reached the consumer. This week’s What’s New Wednesday features a glass milk bottle from the Lakeside Dairy of Sioux Falls. According to Eric Renshaw’s Oct. 26, 2017 article in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, the Lakeside Dairy had quite a history.
Privately owned by the Rogers and Danz families, the Lakeside Dairy came into existence in 1890s. The Rogers family milked and added farms over the years. In 1917, Ralph Sr and Esther Rogers took the leadership role. Ralph Rogers Sr. announced with pride a new way of delivering to customers, a single-drawn horse delivery wagon with rubber wheels. In the wee hours of the morning, customers appreciated the quiet of this new delivery method.
Ralph Jr. and Mary Rogers returned to run the dairy in 1945, after serving in the Army Air Corps. They continued the business at 519 N. Main St, Sioux Falls. In 1963, tragedy struck with nine injuries and one death from an explosion. Ammonia was used as a refrigerant and unfortunately a leak in the basement of the building caused the explosion. A new building proved necessary, and so they rebuilt a modern, state-of-the-art facility at 1200 W. Russell St.
In 1973, Jack Danz became vice-president and general manager, and two years later bought the company from the Rogers Family. He sold it to County Lake Foods (Land O’ Lakes) in 1986. Today, a prominent feature of the Lakeside Dairy still graces the Sioux Falls Landscape from 1966. Daisy, a 15-foot steel and fiberglass Holstein cow, reminds us of the vital role milk, milk products and dairies had in making sure everyone could get their “milk mustache.”
SDAHM 1978:150:183