At Pollyanna’s Antiques, some pieces travel a long way to reach us. These barely had to leave the neighborhood. Two Miller Bros. Creamery milk crates, still stenciled “MT. CLEMENS MICH.” across their weathered slats, have come home to downtown, along with a pair of amber creamery bottles and the wire carriers that once went with them.
A Hometown Name, Stamped in Wood
Look closely at the lettering on these crates: “MILLER BROS CRY CO.” and, right beneath it, the name of our own town. The “63” stamped at the end most likely marks the year the crate was built. Dairies did that so they could keep track of their stock, since crates were loaded, emptied, returned and refilled for years. The galvanized steel corners and edges, all riveted in place, were there to protect the wood from years of hard use on the delivery route.
The amber glass bottles carry the Miller Bros. Creamery name in bold white lettering. The two wire bottle carriers show a different side of how milk once reached the table: one is a sturdy rack with a black-wrapped handle, the other a folding carrier with a red wooden grip. They are simple, practical tools, and exactly the kind of everyday object that rarely survives.
Bringing Them Home
A dairy crate is one of the most useful antiques you can own. Stack them for a bookshelf, tuck one beside the back door for boots and mail, or fill one with plants on the porch. The wire carriers look wonderful on a kitchen counter holding bottles, flowers or utensils. For anyone with Mt. Clemens roots, a crate with our town’s name on it is a real piece of local history.
Come see these hometown treasures in person at Pollyanna’s Antiques, 287 North Avenue in downtown Mt. Clemens. We’re open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM.