January 3, 1967 NM Northwestern
Despite the optimistic tone of this ad piece, the late 1960s were not kind to local dairies. So many went out of business or were absorbed by larger operations due to rising costs. We first encountered Gear's last July when we discussed the demise of local dairies in the feature on the Meadowview Dairy, and in November, we featured some imagery of Gear's. This article provides a nice overview of the operation and was published only six months before Gear's takeover by Morning Glory.
I own a milk bottle that has the Gear Dairy name on the front of it. I enjoy collecting old family and local memorabilia. It was something I found in my parents basement from years ago.
ReplyDeleteI have a metal milk can from Gear Dairy in my garage. Does anyone know how to get in touch with a family member to see if they want it?
ReplyDeleteI called the Menasha Historical Society and they're going to get back to me.
DeleteThat was my great-grandfather's dairy; I've been collecting memorabilia for years.
DeleteMy great grandfather Charles Gear started the Gear's Dairy on his farm. I would be very interested in this if you still have it.
DeleteMaryJo Jensen
Do you still have the milk can? I am interested infall Gear Dairy items
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ReplyDeleteI found a glass Gears Bottle yesterday on the bottom of Lake Winnebago. As a commercial diver by trade, I find many old glass bottles in rivers and streams. The bottle has Gears Dairy embossed on the glass, along with the words 'third quart liquid. On the bottom of the bottle is the number 46. Trying to figure out the age.
ReplyDeleteI owned the gears dairy for a few years and while we were remodeling we came across so old news papers and other items about the dairy . I still have most and I have a milk bottle from there
ReplyDeleteMy last name is Gear and if you have any items you wish to sell let me know?
DeleteThnaks
Hi, if you're interested in getting rid of any papers or selling items let me know. My friends grandfather had Gear's Dairy and she's interested in the history. She only has one bottle from family.
ReplyDeleteMy paternal grandmother was Edith Gear Johnson. She was one of the Gear’s daughters. Her brothers and sisters were my great aunts and uncles. My dad would take me to the dairy occasionally. My grand father was Harry A. Johnson, my great grandfather was Jens or John Johnson he immigrated from Denmark. My dad is Kendrick Johnson, his brother was Eric Johnson.
ReplyDeleteHello cousin! Edith was my Great Aunt. Her brother Robert William Gear Jr. was my grandfather. My memories of Edith are from when she was living with Mabel in the house by the dairy. She made dunuts for us :)
DeleteIn the 60's Hugh Gear (& a brother named Dick) not only helped run the Gear Dairy that served our communities residents - they were involved with the Boys Brigade - a fine Neenah-Menasha Organization for boys at that time. (Now serving Boys AND Girls!) Hugh used his delivery truck to take kids baggage to Winter Camps & to aid in newspaper collection fund raisers events. Long a respect name in the community, members of the Gear family still reside in Menasha!
ReplyDeleteMy parents' house was on First Street in Menasha and they got their milk from Gear's Dairy since before I was born. The Gears had a small retail counter in the dairy building. I remember buying a gallon of Gear Vanilla Ice Cream there in the early 1960s for $1.00. And, boy, was that good ice cream!
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