Golden State Milk Products (later Golden State Company) was a corporation created by the merger of various dairies including the Golden State Milk Company, Central-Shuey Creamery, Berkeley Farm Creamery,and others. 1 A 1925 article said it was the "largest creamery organization west of the Rockies." 3
The original dairy was based in Vallejo, and formed in 1919 by the merger of the Durham Dairy, Central Union Creamery, and Vallejo Dairy Delivery. 2
In 1926, Golden State Milk Products opened a new facility at 770-776 - 22nd Street. 4
Despite a lawsuit by the former chairman of the board, L.E.W. Pioda, the company reorganized in 1930 as the Golden State Company. 10
In May 1931, it was reported that the Golden State Company was being sold to National Dairy Products, but by July 1931 the purchase had been called off. At the time, Golden State Company was worth an estimated $20,000,000. 11,12
In 1935, they had a baseball team, 5 and the 1935 directory lists 5307 Telegraph (a former Central-Shuey plant) for the milk division, and 1101 - 26th for the ice cream division. The directory also lists "Central-Shuey Creamery - changed to Golden State Company, Ltd." 6
In 1954, Golden State merged with Foremost Dairies, which for a time sold Foremost-Golden State Milk. 7,8,9
NB: An earlier page stub about the company's 49er/miner logo said: "Designed by Frank Kaufman of Piedmont Calif. A miner with pick. Designed as a bet with owners." That was likely Frank H. Kaufman, who was a sign painter who died in 1962. The info has yet to be confirmed.
Links and References
- Golden State Milk Products Company Oakland Post Enquirer May 24, 1929
- "Blue Sky" Permits Oakland Tribune April 20, 1919
- Company To Open Sales Unit In City Oakland Tribune June 14, 1925
- Golden State Milk Plant Oakland Tribune July 18, 1926
- Golden State Milk Good Old Sandlot Days
- Polk's Oakland 1935
- Golden State Co., Foremost Dairies of Florida Merge Sacramento Bee January 20, 1954
- Golden State Stockholders Vote For Merger Sacramento Bee February 26, 1954
- Fictitious Name Certificate - Foremost / Golden State The Hanford Sentinel March 9, 1954
- Court Upholds Golden State Milk Co. Plans Oakland Post Enquirer December 2, 1930
- Golden State Milk Sold To Nat'l Dairy Oakland Tribune May 13, 1931
- Golden State Milk Merger Called Off Oakland Tribune July 18, 1931