This Tillamook cheese factory would have been one of several small factories in the central Tillamook County area that existed before consolidation into the one large factory north of TIllamook. In early 1969, all remaining Tillamook County factories were forced to join that large factory. One of the causes of the cheese war was fear… READ MORE
Tillamook Cheese and Dairy Association formed in January 1962 from two cooperatives: Grade A Shippers Association and Tillamook Cheese Association. During the Cheese War, TCDA was an alternative to Tillamook County Creamery Association. As a result of a lawsuit against TCCA, TCDA ran the large cheese factory, where it produced Premium Brand Tillamook Cheese between… READ MORE
This 1941 photo shows an employee at the big Tillamook cheese factory working on a vat of future cheese. Rennet was a key ingredient in creating the cheese. As Linda Kirk, who was a guide back when visitors could walk around the production floor, wrote in the book, Cheese War, “Rennet causes the milk to… READ MORE
This 1958 photo shows cheese aging in the Tillamook factory’s cold storage room. (Photo from Northwest Digital Heritage) READ MORE
Tillamook advertised a loaf of Tillamook medium cheddar “for real Cheese eaters” and “for the larger family,” for the (Western) price of $4.45, including shipping. READ MORE
Every day, Tillamook County farmers hauled their cans of milk to their cheese factory. The milk was from the previous night’s milking and that morning’s milking. Farmers belonged to cheese factory cooperatives close to their farms so the delivery didn’t take all day. Once the cans were delivered, it was time to head back to… READ MORE
Male cheesemakers created the cheese, and women packaged it. In this photo from an early 1950s publication, “Home of Tillamook Cheese,” the packaging department employees are working on the newly popular rindless one- and half-pound packages of medium and sharp cheese as well as wedges an snack bars – the products we are familiar with… READ MORE
Reporter Dorothy Neighbors visited the large Tillamook cheese factory in 1958 and wrote about the experience for The Seattle Times. (Photo credit: The Seattle Times, Nov. 18, 1958) READ MORE
Strike! In July 1959, Tillamook County Creamery Association employees were on strike in solidarity with their Teamster members. Farmers and some non-striking workers filled in to keep production and distribution going. Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa spoke in support and Gov. Mark Hatfield got involved in the negotiations. Grocery store shoppers boycotted the product in 11… READ MORE
This 1893 photo shows two cheesemakers at the Beaver Cheese Factory. Ike Heiner (left) was the cheesemaker; Elizabeth Foland (right) was a rare woman assisting in the factory. According to “The Tillamook Way,” Ike worked at Beaver for 30 years after the cooperative was formed by Merriman Foland, Joe Bixby, Walter West, Al Bunn, William… READ MORE
