The Men Of The Co-op

Mr Hollett, Co-op Milkman circa 1940's

Men who worked for the Co-op came from every walk of life. Some worked there to avoid the dreaded coal mines, some came as friends of the management team who were made up of mostly old countrymen and some came to work because they loved the work. Donald's father was one of those who came and made the Co-op his life's work.

Up at 5am, breakfast and a walk to the stable to prepare his rig for the day's delivery of milk to households all over Sydney Mines. The Co-op kept over a dozen draft horses, mainly Clydesdales, to haul or deliver milk, groceries and bread to families in our town.

Getting the horse ready for work was a task that required the driver to harness these giant horses and to hitch them up to the milk waggon and travel over to the milk plant to pick up their load for the day. Back then people place an empty milk bottle on their step with a dime and the driver replaced this glass , quart or pint bottle in it's place. Since the milk was pasteurized but not homogenized the cream always came to the top. There was a small cardboard cover over the top of the bottle and in winter when the cream froze the cork would pop and made the prized cream exposed to the crows who knew how to be good thieves.

From door to door every day was a heavy task and the horses became tuned into the route and knew where to stop and go. Any man could service the route as the horse had it down pat. These drivers knew nearly everyone in town and acted as the eyes and ears of the community. More than once these alert drivers called in fires and help as they saw fit during their workday.

The horse in the picture was named Queen I believe and worked for a long time in our end of town.The milk waggon pictured was to become our playhouse after it was retired with trucks taking over from the horses. My Dad took off the wheels and installed it near our house and it became home to my sisters dolls and toys.

Donald's father was not always a milkman as he grew up through the ranks and ended as the manager of the Cranberry Co-op. Many times I called in at this store as it was right next to my grandfathers home and we used to pass it on the way there. One memory of Donald's Father in that store was the old water cooled pop machine. Right at the front of the store and so cold. I used to pick an Iron Brew, a local drink like cola and drink it in the store. It was $.o5 to drink there and $.07 if you took the bottle. You received the $.o2 back with the return of the bottle.

The Cranberry store was unique as it carried more fishermen's supplies and dried cod and caplin were always there in abundance. The Co-op men were a special breed and Donald's Dad was a Co-op man through and through. We as kids always loved to go into his store because he treated us very well.