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Saturday, January 14, 1933

      Tastes of People for Milk and Dairy Products Are Still Pretty
Much the Same, But Method Of Distributing Product
Has Shown Tremendous Improvement -- Sons Take
Over Wade's Buisness

      Changing times and changing tastes have affected many phases of human activity, but the tastes of people for milk and dairy products still are pretty much the same, Frank H Wade of Hillside road, Greenfield Hill, has found. Mr. Wade has just retired, after being a milk dealer for 40 years, and commencing with the new year, turned over his entire business to his two sons, Howard F. Wade, who has taken over the pastuerizing plant, and John H. Wade, who has taken over the retail business.

      The greatest contract between the milk business today and the milk business when Mr. Wade first went into it, is in the matter of cleanliness. Not so much was known of need for scrupulous cleanliness in those days, and even when the dairyman and milk dealer were clean and sanitary in all of their operations, often the customers, leaving out a pail or a pitcher into which the milk was to be dripped, took no pains at all to see that the vessel was clean.

      Difficult economic conditions have resulted in some families curtailing their supply of milk, but in general those who have an appetite for milk, continue to have it satisfied. Educational work, in the schools and in other ways, to spread better dietary knowledge, has not had a tremendous effect upon the amount of milk consumed, in Mr. Wade's opinion.

      Mr. Wade was born in Easton, 65 years ago. He started to peddle milk 49 years ago, in Easton, but gave it up for a time, but just 40 years ago, 1893, he started a milk route, and he has been actively engaged in the milk business ever since.

      For twelve years at a time, he did not miss even a day from his seven-days-a-wekk routine, and at any time during the 40 years, his absences from his route have been seldom.

      His decision to retire was made suddenly, just a few months ago, and after a family council, he concluded that he would retire on January 1, turning the business over to his sons, and after that date, he did not want any milk supplies or any equipment on his place, to make him "home sick" for the old grind of 40 years.

      His plans have been carried out, the pastuerizing plant having been moved from the Greenfield Hill dairy on Hillside road, to his son, Howard F. Wade's, on Bungalow avenue. The six peddlers who formerly bought their milk at the Wade pastuerizing plant, now are served at Howard F. Wade's plant on Bungalow avenue, where he also supplies his brother, John H. Wade, for the route of retail customers which the latter has taken over from his father.

      After a double decade of arising at all hours of the night to start the day's work, Mr. Wade's first wish was to enjoy the luxury of remaining in bed until 7 o'clock in the morning, -- an experience which has been his scarcely more than a dozen times in 40 years. Members of his family wagered that he would not be able to do it, and that he would rise as usual about 3 or 4 o'clock. But on Monday morning it was "off with the old ways," and he remained in bed in comfort, while toiling milkmen went on their way in the darkness.

      When Mr. Wade first came to Fairfield 26 years ago, he occupied the Sherwood place, on Hill's Farm road, now owned by John L. Christie. Here he maintained his own herd of 24 or 26 cows, and went out and delivered the milk from house to house.

      When Mr. Wade first went into business, he used horses in the delivery, of course. About 17 years ago, he bought his first auto truck, and he has been using motor cars ever since.

      When he was at the Sherwood place, Mr. Wade frequently would go to bed at 6 p.m., and rise at 10:30, so as to have time to complete all of the necessary chores before setting out on the route. Gradually the rising time was extended, until it was set at 1 o'clock.

For the last 22 years, however, he has been rising at 2, or 3 or 4 o'clock, depending upon the season, so arranging his route as to be finished by noon.

      A practice adopted by milk distributors in recent years, is to have "daylight delivery" in the winter season. This was done, to prevent the damage and annoyance caused by frozen bottles of milk. When the milk was delivered several hours before the family arose, frozen milk was a frequent occurrence at breakfast.

      Mr. Wade has no particular plans to utilize his leisure, but belives that there will be plenty of work about his own place to keep him busy for awhile.