Old Dairy - new view

Posted by Stephen Phillips (San Francisco, United States) on 13 October 2008 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.

This is the old dairy in the center of Loleta that's closed and for sale. I wanted to get a view of all the many buildings - and this does the job - everything from the brick buildings at the far left (those are the main buildings with the glass bricks) - to this wooden building here at right - are all part of the old dairy. I love how this overlooks the many dairy farms that stretch out for miles beyond.

OK - first the bad news...

It really looks bad for this group of structures. The whole thing has been shut down since 1993, except the powdered milk operation which continued here until recently. That's why I thought the Cheese Company was working here. These buildings are in terrible condition. The most conservative estimate just to bring the structures to code is three million dollars. That's in addition to the price for the buildings and the land. (consult your nearest Caldwell-Banker Realtor).

Now the good news...

This was The Humboldt Creamery. It has relocated to a modern Facility in Ferndale, California - just a few kilometers away. So all of the jobs remain nearby. The Loleta Cheese Company has always processed their own products. I made full use of their tasting rooms and have two of their excellent cheeses at home right now. Yum.

Anthony Lambert from Bielefeld, Germany

It all makes for a great shot !!

13 Oct 2008 8:53am

Marcie from United States

It's too bad about the old dairy....sad - y'know?
Love how you've composed this...and the mood. Very nice!

13 Oct 2008 11:40am

@Marcie: I agree. My guess is that as lumber production in the region fell and the demise of the railroad became evident - the dairy saw it made better economic sense to build a new facility than to maintain this one. This is pure speculation.

dogilicious from Millerstown, PA, United States

Very nice composition. Thanks for the story.

13 Oct 2008 12:07pm

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

I think it's pretty cool that there's a wall left without a building, no other city has that, just Loleta, how wonderful ;)

13 Oct 2008 1:17pm

@Lorraine: Oh, there is a building there - and it's a big one - the wide angle just lost the sides from this perspective. We will see what can't be seen here this Saturday.

gbe from kansas city, United States

great old buildings, and this light, just after a rain, is the best.

13 Oct 2008 2:09pm

Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France

Incredible this wall alone along the road. Very unusual, well done.

13 Oct 2008 2:40pm

yz from Budapest, Hungary

The distorted perspective enhances the oddness of that wooden building. I like it a lot.

13 Oct 2008 5:05pm

rem_la from Villiers, France

un mur tout seul !! drole d'idée !!

13 Oct 2008 6:37pm

@rem_la: Il s'agit d'un mur, nous ne pouvons pas voir sous cet angle. Nous allons voir le bâtiment qui est caché ici ce samedi. Pourtant, cela peut être un lieu délicieusement étrange.

Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Good! you are doing a nostalgic travel by the memory.
I like the series.

13 Oct 2008 6:42pm

Alun Lambert from cheshire, United Kingdom

very good image,

13 Oct 2008 9:56pm

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States

change is often sad -- but it is good to know that this story at least has somewhat of a happy ending! thanks for the historic anecdote on this wonderfully rural californian town! and any story that produces as an end result, some tasty cheese is always a winner in my book!! :D

13 Oct 2008 11:35pm

@dj.tigersprout: Thanks, DJ - for better or worse - much more to follow...

John Maslowski from Dallas, PA, United States

I use to love to visit an old dairy here where I live. Unfortunately that one has closed down too. This kinda reminds me of the monolith from the movie 2001. Lovely shot really like the composition here Stephen.

14 Oct 2008 1:49am

@John Maslowski: Aggh! Whatever you do - don't touch that big grey box with the weird squealing noises. Next thing you know - you'll start getting ideas - then everything will change... That movie - and later, Arthur Clarke's books - had a major influence on my life.

One from Açores, Portugal

Very good image. Beautiful composition, thank you for your explanation !

14 Oct 2008 2:56am

MontereyJohn from Salinas, California, United States

It is out of 2001! Weird :) Nice image.

14 Oct 2008 4:03am

willow from Chelsea, United States

With the angle there is almost a surreal feeling to this image - kind of "Salvidor Dali" - ish. Very cool. Glad the cheese factory is survivng - you can never have too much cheese!

14 Oct 2008 3:45pm

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

I like this shot because it is so realistic, it's as it is. Always good to record the neighborhood especially old buildings, I do that myself too.

14 Oct 2008 3:48pm

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