The Harvey area was well known for its Jersey cattle industry. Due to its high productivity, a creamery was built in the heart of Harvey Station on what is now known as Candlelight Lane.
Timeline:
- 1934 Construction of Harvey Creamery by William McLean and J. Elwood McLean
- 1947 Creamery was sold to Harvey Creamery Ltd.
- 1952 Creamery burned and new plant built
- 1958 Milk processing began
- 1960 Company merged with New Brunswick Dairies, Ltd.
- 1962 Sold to Capital Co-operative Ltd.
- 1975 Plant closed
Here is a history written by local resident Lottie (Little) Messer
Harvey creamery was built in 1934. Wm. McLean, who owned and operated a creamery in Oxford N.B. sold the business to Brookfield Dairies and came to Harvey, where he and his son, J. Elwood McLean, founded the Harvey Creamery, starting in a small way and gradually adding to the business as production increased.
About two years another son Edgar McLean joined the firm to become engineer and plant manager.
In 1947 J.E. McLean was in charge of the business and ready to sell out, his father had died sometime before. The creamery was vital to the farmers in the surrounding area and a group of them got together to see what could be done, as a result Harvey Creamery Ltd. was formed, 200 farmers holding stock in the company. At this time they manufactured butter, ice cream, buttermilk powder and processed cheese.
In 1952 the plant was burned with the exception of the Cheese Plant. A new plant was built. During this time the cream was taken to Capital Co-operative Ltd. Fredericton, and New Brunswick Dairies Ltd., Harvey Station, to be made into butter.
Cheese was discontinued and this plant was equipped to make ice cream.
In 1958 mill equipment was bought and in April started to process milk and deliver in McAdam and Harvey area.
In May 1960 New Brunswick dairies Ltd. and Harvey Creamery Ltd. amalgamated. The equipment from New Brunswick Dairies was installed in the Harvey Creamery plant.
In May, 1962 Harvey Creamery was sold to Capital Co-operative Ltd., Fredericton. The Harvey branch now manufactured butter, buttermilk powder and skim milk powder.
We have two trucks delivering milk in McAdam, Brockway and Harvey area. One refrigerator truck selling butter, ice cream, frozen foods and poultry in Harvey, McAdam, St. Stephen and Deer Island.
The cream trucks from Fredericton and two cream trucks from Harvey have the cream in cans from the farmers to be weighed, graded and tested. The cream is then dumped into vats and pasteurized. Later it is churned into butter and printed by an automatic printer.
One transport truck goes to Capital Co-operative Ltd., Fredericton five days a week, transporting milk, butter, etc. The plant in Harvey employs 15 to 17 employees.
Plant closed November 30, 1974.
I started to work at Harvey Creamery May 1939 until May 1969.
Lottie Messer
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