Name/Title
Cabot Farmers Cooperative CreameryEntry/Object ID
2009.2.4Description
Linocut print. The central focus of the image is a building with slanting (pitched), shingled roof and wooden exterior with shuttered windows surrounded by 4-5 horse-drawn wagons. These wagons are being loaded with milk cans from the open doorway of the building with horses in front of each wagon waiting. Alongside wagons are pairs of farmers. In the back, right is a pair with dark coats and hats and in the front right is another pair in overalls with their sleeves rolled up and bean bag caps. Two women sit atop their wagons, one along the side of the building, by the further window, and one in the lower right hand side facing us. In the background, there are figures of animals grazing peacefully in the fields with a winding fence along the left hand side and a small, barn in the distance with a smaller building attaching to its front facade. Below the image, there is the title, "CABOT FARMERS/ COOPERATIVE CREAMERY" in simplistic, thick, single stroke styled lettering and positioned to the right of it, there is the "Rosedale Brand" logo with gothic-style lettering, which features a rose blossom. Below the title, there is a statement that reads: "Vermonters working together / Since 1919" in stylized, casual, semi-thick semi-thin writing. The print is mounted on light beige paper.Artwork Details
Subject
Cabot CreamerySubject Place
Town
CabotCounty
Washington CountyState/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaContext
In 1919, the Cabot Village Creamery (built in 1893), incorporated under the co-op model as Cabot Farmers Cooperative Creamery. 94 farms formed the original company which turned their excess milk into butter for the commercial market under the Rosedale name. In 1934, Cabot expanded into cheese production as well. The number of co-op members peaked at approximately 600 Vermont farms in 1960. At this time the company dropped the Rosedale name and marketed cutter and cheese as Cabot.
With the steady decline of dairy farming in Vermont, Cabot merged with Agri-Mark, a co-op representing farmers throughout the northeast, in 1992. Today, Agri-Mark represents about 700 farms in New York and New England. In addition to the Cabot dairy plant, they also operate plants in Massachusetts and New York. Consumer brands include Cabot and McCadam. Bulk whey and dairy protein commercial products are branded as Agri-Mark.
Currently residing in Lyndonville, Mary Gorham Simpson was born in northern Vermont and raised on a working dairy farm in Burke. After graduating from Lyndon State College, she and her husband, Wilder Simpson, taught school in the area for several years, then moved west. They lived for seven years in Wyoming and 14 years in Alaska, returning to Vermont in 1992.
While raising her three children, Simpson took art classes and worked on her own in various media - drawing, calligraphy, and painting. In Alaska, she worked as a graphic artist for the Imaginarium Science Center in Anchorage and as a scenic artist for the Alaska Festival Theater and Anchorage Civic Opera. She did scrimshaw for two shops and exhibit calligraphy for three years for the Anchorage Museum of History and Art.
Now back in Vermont, she mostly works as a printmaker with subjects reflecting memories of Vermont agriculture.Acquisition
Accession
2009.2Source or Donor
Paige, H. BrookeAcquisition Method
GiftMade/Created
Artist
Simpson, Mary Gorham (b.1945)Date made
2008Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
PrintNomenclature Sub-Class
Graphic DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsDimensions
Dimension Description
FramedHeight
16-1/4 inWidth
13-1/4 inDimension Description
UnframedHeight
12-3/4 inWidth
9-5/8 inRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Cabot Farmers Co-op, Inc.Related Places
Place
Town
CabotCounty
Washington CountyState/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North America