walker gordon laboratory company short story

In early 1891, Dr. Thomas M. Rotch of Boston, determined that infant deaths could be greatly reduced by careful prescription feeding. He met with Mr. Gustavus A. Gordon, a scientist, and they came up with modified cow's milk - changing a cow's milk to closer resemble human mother's milk. Mr. George H. Walker, a Boston businessman, was interested in the project and was the one who supplied the financing. The first laboratory opened in Boston on December 1, 1891. It was decided that in order to produce a clean milk, they needed their own farm.
So in 1897 Walker-Gordon purchased 180 acres of prime farmland in Plainsboro, New Jersey. A small village located in the center of the state, halfway between New York City and Philadelphia, on a main highway and a few hundred yards from the mainline Pennsylvania Railroad.

From this small beginning, Walker-Gordon, by 1945 had grown to be the world's largest Certified Milk Farm. It took 160 employees to run the operation. There were about 2500 acres of land to grow the roughage feed for 1650 milking cows, 520 dry cows, 650 young stock and 22 bulls.

Due to various financial reasons, by 1971, it became unprofitable to continue as a dairy operation. So on June 18, 1971 the dairy operation of the Walker-Gordon Laboratory Co. ceased. Today Walker-Gordon, raises beef cattle, in addition to growing and selling general field crops (corn, wheat, soybeans, etc.).

Initially all milking was done by hand. Each cow was milked twice a day and each man was responsible for milking thirty cows. The photo is dated 1898. Henry Jeffers, Sr. is standing far right. Courtesy of Ruedemann Children

Shown here in a photo captioned "Plainsboro N.J. Summer of 1911" are the "Walker-Gordon Laboratory Company Advisory Committee": Henry W. Jeffers, Sr. (Plainsboro Farms), C.H. Walker, F.W. Howe, G.W. Franklin, E.C. Hodson and George H. Walker(President). Courtesy of Glenn Fowler

Walker-Gordon Rotolactor
This is where the cows would be milked on the "Cow Merry-Go-Round". The machine milked 50 cows in 12 1/2 minutes. It was inaugurated on November 12, 1930 by Thomas Edison. Milk production ended June 18, 1971. The man in the center is Eddie Campbell.

Walker-Gordon Main Office
This building was originally the "Ivy Club", an eating establishment at Princeton University. Built in 1889, it was moved to Plainsboro prior to 1914 and rebuilt as the Walker Gordon Office. This building, along with the Rotolactor, was torn down June 1971. Photo circa mid 1930's

Walker-Gordon Boarding House
Walker-Gordon Boarding House The building was also known as the "club house" and housed the single men who worked at the farm. Built in1918, the building was usd as living quarters until 1971 when Walker Gordon ceased milk production. This was also the site for the first Boy Scout troop meetings in Plainsboro. (The Girl Scouts met in the Record Room of Walker Gordon). The on-site manager was Mrs. ridgeway. Photo circa 1925

Milk House
This circa 1906 photo shows the Milk House and the ramp with a cart containing milk cans. The ramp used a mechanical winch run by steam or electricity. Courtesy of Jeffers Family