The Creamery – Skaneateles Historical Society

The Creamery is the museum home of the Skaneateles Historical Society, set in a building constructed in 1899 so farmers would have a place to sell their milk and the public could buy dairy products. Skaneateles, at the north end of Skaneateles Lake, has a farming heritage that the building helps tell.

About 200 farmers eventually brought milk there, and they were paid by weight and butterfat content. Much of the cream was made into butter in a steam-driven 375-gallon churn and shipped to New York City, where sweet, unsalted butter had a large market. The Society took over the building in 1989 and opened it as its permanent home in 1992.

What to Know

• The building went up in 1899 as a creamery.
• Farmers were paid by the pound and by the butterfat content of their milk.
• The creamery’s butter was often shipped to New York City.
• The Skaneateles Historical Society opened it as its permanent home in 1992.
• Visit Syracuse features the museum.