Vision of Wallkill collecting Borden memorabilia

By Connor Linskey
Posted 1/22/20

Vision of Wallkill, a community improvement group, has decided to present a display of Borden Inc. memorabilia following Borden Dairy Company’s announcement of filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy …

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Vision of Wallkill collecting Borden memorabilia

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Vision of Wallkill, a community improvement group, has decided to present a display of Borden Inc. memorabilia following Borden Dairy Company’s announcement of filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection.

Borden Dairy Co., a Dallas-based company, has deep roots in the Hamlet of Wallkill. Milk Products, LLC licenses the Borden name and Elsie the Cow trademark from Borden Inc.’s successor company Hexion Specialty Chemicals. The president of Borden Inc. once operated a massive farm in the Hamlet of Wallkill.

During his time as president of the company, John G. Borden established the Borden Home Farm in the Hamlet of Wallkill. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the farm was an enormous operation, spanning 1,700 acres of land and employing dozens of workers. Borden also built the only piece of his family’s business enterprise in the Hamlet of Wallkill in 1884. Borden’s New York Condensed Milk Company built its largest condensery along Route 208. It was built to process the milk of cows in Orange and Ulster counties. In its heyday, the condensery employed dozens of workers. Today the structure sits in ruins after fire and neglect.

After John died in October 1891, his wife Ellen managed the Home Farm. By 1904, John’s youngest daughter Marion took over the farm. During her lifetime she brought electricity and telephone service to the Hamlet of Wallkill. After her death in 1930, the Home Farm was bequeathed to the Masonic Order. The Masons had little interest in the farm and quickly sold most of the land. Most of the buildings from the Borden Home Farm were either torn down or destroyed by fire.

Today, members of the Vision of Wallkill are working to keep the memory of the Borden family alive. James Perine, the husband of Vision of Wallkill member Adrienne Gelfand-Perine, is rounding up his Borden Inc. memorabilia to be displayed at Shawangunk Town Hall by the middle of this week.

His collection includes everything from sidewalk signs to milk bottles as well as china and glassware. Perine’s collection even includes a toy Borden Inc. horse drawn wagon.

“I like to own them, I like to display them,” Perine said. “I find local history somewhat fascinating.”

He noted that it is important to remember Borden Inc., as it was a worldwide company that had roots in the Hamlet of Wallkill. Perine was upset when he saw the decayed condensery on Route 208 and vowed to raise awareness of the impact that Borden Inc. had on the hamlet.

“The Borden Farm employed dozens if not hundreds of people,” he said. “I don’t think things like that should be forgotten.”
Perine is encouraging anyone with Borden Inc. memorabilia to donate to his display. Anyone who wishes to contribute artifacts to Perine’s display can contact him at 845-895-8712. Vision of Wallkill is also asking those with stories of Borden Inc. to share them with the community. Those who wish to submit stories can send an email to dramapearl@aol.com.