On May 19, 1960, Beale Dixon’s home and car were bombed with dynamite. He told The Oregonian, “I just have no idea who would be wanting to do such a thing….” but many wondered if it was connected to a labor strike at the Tillamook cheese factory a year earlier that didn’t conclude until Oregon’s… READ MORE
Category Archives: County Creamery
Accounting Lawsuit Filed Against County Creamery
In 1965, Cheese & Dairy sued County Creamery, alleging accounting errors, such as being owed $1,782,655 in assets ($10,222,693 in 2025 dollars), $237,818 from cheese held and sold ($2,431,141), and $285,563 in debts ($2,919,223). (Credit: The Oregonian, 5.18.65) READ MORE
Reasons Why a Declaratory Judgment Lawsuit Was Filed
At an Aug. 19, 1963 special board meeting, patrons of Red Clover Cheese Factory and Tillamook Cheese & Dairy Association heard an explanation of why the two factories were ready to file a declaratory judgment lawsuit against Tillamook County Creamery Association. READ MORE
Reasons to Cancel Marketing Agreement Listed by Cheese & Dairy
In a “Board Information” message, the Publicity Committee of Cheese & Dairy told its patrons why it was cancelling its marketing agreement with County Creamery. The nine reasons were the same reasons cited by Red Clover in its own notice of cancellation to County Creamery. The reasons included: loss of representation; unfair charges; lack of… READ MORE
County Creamery’s Bookkeeping Errors Noted by Cheese & Dairy
Cheese & Dairy’s board of directors hired an auditor and shared the results with the patrons in a Feb. 14, 1963 “Board Information” message. The auditors found numerous bookkeeping errors. Eight of the directors spent their own money to copy and mail the information. The entire letter is provided below. “February 14, 1963 To members… READ MORE
Storage of Cheese in Main Factory
After the large factory was built north of Tillamook in 1949, cheese was stored and aged uniformly in refrigerated rooms. Some of the wheels of cheese were being stored because production outstripped sales. Credit: (top) Northwest Digital Heritage; (bottom) Tacoma Public Library, D67477-89, Richards Studio READ MORE
No Money, No Milk
Cheese & Dairy protested County Creamery’s lack of payment for July and August 1963 milk by declaring that no more milk would be sent until payment was made. “No Money — No Milk!!” was the Cheese & Dairy board’s defiant statement. Within days of receiving the notice, County Creamery credited more than $299,000 to Cheese… READ MORE
Judge’s Perspective on Antitrust Lawsuit
Judge Bruce Thompson, from Reno, Nevada, heard the antitrust lawsuit filed by Cheese & Dairy against County Creamery. The judge’s complete post-trial statement is provided below. Some highlights: “…It is the present and the future that count. Put away your differences and your bitterness….There isn’t a court in the land or a law that can… READ MORE
Cheese & Dairy Loses Cheese War
Cheese & Dairy reached settlement terms with County Creamery in September 1968, ending the Cheese War. (Credit: Headlight-Herald) READ MORE
Audit Questioned by Cheese & Dairy
In 1965, a Cheese & Dairy leader described a County Creamery audit of its earnings statement as “misleading.” The statement and audit included County Creamery transactions and expenses charged to Cheese & Dairy. (Credit: Oregon Journal, 1.20.65) READ MORE
