The Thomas Hefty cheese factory in Washington township in the 1800’s. Thomas Hefty was a dairy farmer that kept a detailed Journal of milk produced, cheese prices and items purchased for the operation of the factory in 1886,1887 and 1888.  (Journal courtesy of Silvan Blum) 

A transcript of the Journal is shown below. 

In 1886 milk was produced on the farm for only eight months during the year, April through Nov

      1886 Cheese Prices       

  Swiss cheese was selling for $.10/lb., Brick for $.11/lb., and Limburger for $.08/

Cheese factory supplies purchased in 1887 — 2 barrels  salt-$2.60, fly paper-$.05, hoop iron-$1.25, 300 ft. barrel staves-$3.90, 1 gallon kerosene-$.10, 1 pail-$.20, 10 cheese boxes-$1.60, 420 ft. cheese shelf boards-$6.30, 1 box Limburger lead foil wrapper-$11.80, 1 bundle cheese paper-$7.07, 24 yards cheese cloth-$2.70, 1 barrel nails-$5.00, 1 broom-$.35, 1 cheese knife-$3.50, pencil $.10, 100 rennets-$1.60.  (Dried calf stomachs used to coagulate the milk in the kettle to make the cheese).