The lumber industry may have given New York Mills its start but agriculture was its lifeblood. Most of Otter Tail County’s income came from farms, food-processing plants, and businesses that served and depended upon farming.

While most farms were small, varied and self-sufficient, by World War I dairying was the primary source of income. Small farmer owned creameries handled the marketing of milk making the county a leader in dairy products.

The first creamery in New York Mills was located south of town on what was known as
“creamery hill.” The dark brick creamery that still stands on Centennial 84 Drive was constructed in 1924. In addition to butter and cheese it was also well known for its ice cream. The Dairy Bar was a popular place as people came from far and wide to buy Walt Dresser’s creations, especially his strawberry ice cream that came from a secret recipe Walt never revealed. On more than one occasion, the newspaper contained letters to the editor from visitors as far away as Arizona and Florida, singing praises of the Creamery’s ice cream. For many years, an ice cream cone was a nickel a scoop. It was one of the spring’s highlights for elementary students to make their annual “field trip”, walking to the creamery for a delicious, giant ice cream cone. A spigot on the outside of the building also provided buttermilk. Buttermilk was, traditionally, the liquid left behind after churning butter out of cultured cream. People would come to fill their containers for use in baking or as Finnish custom dictated, a cool, refreshing drink.

Since closing in 1970, the old creamery building has gone through several uses yet remains largely unchanged.