Harry L. Norris
Encyclopedia
Harry L. Norris was an American pioneer in dairy
distribution. He was born in Baltimore
, Maryland
in 1885, and began work with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
at age 11. He began as a messenger boy for the telegraph department. His hard work led to several promotions, and in 1912 he became the traveling baggage agent for the railroad. In 1916, Harry’s responsibilities were expanded to include the milk business, a labor intensive and vital part of train service to dairy farmers and consumers. He developed depots along train routes were farmers could gather their milk cans for transportation to the city, using freight trains that allowed for packing milk cans in ice. Due to his experience with the problems inherent in this system, he was asked to assist in the development of a milk tank car by rail car manufacturers. The results were a 6,000 gallon insulated tanker that greatly simplified transportation of milk, and reduced costs.
Harry resigned his position with the B & O in 1926 and began a new phase of his career. He was president of the Flavorite Ice Cream Co. in Washington D.C., and began his own company with his sons, the Norris Milk Products Company. He was a co-founder and treasurer of the National Association of Independent Ice Cream Manufacturers.
Mr. Norris lived with his wife and 3 children for many years on Leeds Avenue in Arbutus, Maryland
, a short walk from the railroad tracks. He organized the Arbutus Community Association and the Arbutus Educational and Social Association, which eventually built the Arbutus Community Hall.
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
distribution. He was born in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in 1885, and began work with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
at age 11. He began as a messenger boy for the telegraph department. His hard work led to several promotions, and in 1912 he became the traveling baggage agent for the railroad. In 1916, Harry’s responsibilities were expanded to include the milk business, a labor intensive and vital part of train service to dairy farmers and consumers. He developed depots along train routes were farmers could gather their milk cans for transportation to the city, using freight trains that allowed for packing milk cans in ice. Due to his experience with the problems inherent in this system, he was asked to assist in the development of a milk tank car by rail car manufacturers. The results were a 6,000 gallon insulated tanker that greatly simplified transportation of milk, and reduced costs.
Harry resigned his position with the B & O in 1926 and began a new phase of his career. He was president of the Flavorite Ice Cream Co. in Washington D.C., and began his own company with his sons, the Norris Milk Products Company. He was a co-founder and treasurer of the National Association of Independent Ice Cream Manufacturers.
Mr. Norris lived with his wife and 3 children for many years on Leeds Avenue in Arbutus, Maryland
Arbutus, Maryland
As of the 2010 Census Arbutus had a population of 20,583. The racial and ethnic compositon of the population was 76.6% non-Hispanic white, 9.5% non-Hispanic black, 0.2% Native American, 2.1% Asian Indian, 6.5% other Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% non-Hispanic from some other race, 2.3% from...
, a short walk from the railroad tracks. He organized the Arbutus Community Association and the Arbutus Educational and Social Association, which eventually built the Arbutus Community Hall.