By: Las Vegas Now Staff
Las Vegas is a city that changes in the blink of an eye. One of the few companies to see nearly all of that change turned 100 years old this year.
Anderson Dairy not only survived to see its centennial, but is still thriving in a town that is very different from the day when the dairy started.
In 1907, Las Vegas was just two years old and starting to grow, when Harry Anderson wandered into town with a couple of cows and decided to start a dairy. He set up his operation in a field across the street from what is now UMC hospital.
100 years later, Anderson Dairy is still supplying milk to the valley.
Vice President Dave Coon took over his portion of the business from his father.
“My father had the good fortunate of going to work for Kenny Searles in 1946 and he was a driver for 10 years and Kenny gave him the opportunity to become part of the ownership in the mid 50's,” he said.
For decades milk was delivered, house to house by horse-drawn carts. And it had to be delivered fast.
“Back in those days, because of a lack of refrigeration, deliveries were made twice a day, to ensure freshness. The only form of refrigeration they had initially was to wet burlap and to place the burlap on top of the milk, the dairy products, and the intention was for the cool breeze as that truck moved, it would create a form of swamp cooling,” said Coon.
The carts were replaced by milk trucks, but returned for a time during World War 2.
Imagine trying to deliver milk twice a day to every home in today's valley. Those days are gone and so is the dairy itself. The company now buys its milk from independent dairy farmers in Utah.
It has survived challenges from a parade of competitors who've come and gone and has adapted to changing tastes.
Milk is still the main product, of course but also ice cream, sour cream and those little coffee creamers seen in restaurants.
Health regulations are far stricter today than when the dairy started.
The years in between are documented in the company's hallways, in photos that trace the growth of both the dairy and the community.
The history lesson is passed along to dozens of school kids who tour the main facility every day. They watch a film about the company and then meet its Disneyesque mascot.
Even for history buffs, one of the best parts of the tour is the ice cream.
Dave Coon says one reason the company lasted for its centennial is community involvement. The company uses the side of its milk cartons to advertise for good causes, including the adoption of wild horses, which it promoted in November.
Anderson dairy is the only locally owned, operated and run dairy in southern Nevada.
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