By MICHAEL BUSHNELL
Northeast News
July 16, 2014

This week, we offer this lovely advertising postcard from the Blue Valley Creamery Company, spotlighting three of the company’s facilities in Sioux City, Iowa; St. Joseph, Mo.; and Chicago.

“Churners of the celebrated Blue Valley Butter” is noted on the front of the card. The Blue Valley Creamery Co. had 21 large butter making plants in the United States and was noted for paying the highest price for cream.

According to historical documents, the Creamery’s Sioux City plant produced the best butter of all the plants in the system. The Sioux City location had a regular staff of 35 people, which was increased to 60 or more during the busy spring and summer season. Blue Valley was also one of the innovators of selling butter in one-pound packages in the early 1900s.

The advertising message typed on the back of the card is dated Sept. 1, 1908 and reads: “Dear Sir, we are writing you to thank you for your recent letter with the list of names of parties who have cows and are not now patrons of ours. The picture will be forwarded to you as soon as completed. The process of making these pictures is somewhat tedious, as it requires an immense amount of work and the exercise of great care. The artist tells us that it will not be safe to figure on being able to deliver them before September 15th anyhow. We are sure the quality of the work will justify the wait. Thanking you again for the names and in advance for your patience, we beg to remain, Yours very sincerely, Blue Valley Creamery Co.”

The card was sent from St. Joseph, Mo. on September 7, 1908 to R. Julien of Amsterdam, Mo.