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Arts & Entertainment

Flashback: The Milkman


By

Jen Carlson

Published Jan 11, 2010

Modified Jan 11, 2010


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By

Jen Carlson

Published Jan 11, 2010

Modified Jan 11, 2010


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Milk delivery on Grove Street in Manhattan, 1936, via the NYPL.

Did you know that today is Milk Day? January 11th was chosen because on this day in 1878, milk was delivered in glass bottles for the first time. The delivery happened in New York, and it's the New York Dairy Company that's credited with having been the first to mass-produce glass bottles for its distribution. It wasn't until 1938 that refrigerated delivery trucks were up and running, however, and milk deliveries were made up to four times a day due to the short shelf life. (Today the expiration date for milk in New York is still shorter than in other areas.) Recently, milk delivery service has returned, for those feeling nostalgic.

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flashback

glass bottles

Milk Day

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milkman


Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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