Skinner Dairy
Encyclopedia
Skinner Dairy was a family-run dairy that existed in and around Jacksonville, Florida
from the 1950s until the mid-1990s.
farm on a portion of their vast land holdings in northeast Florida
beginning in the early 1950s. During the late 50s the growing influence of grocery stores made it more difficult for small, independent dairies to remain financially solvent. The decision was made to build small freestanding "milk houses" in residential neighborhoods. These stores offered milk and other dairy products and they were ideally suited to replace the declining milk home delivery service. The first store was built in 1958 and the chain peaked in 1985 with 21 stores throughout northeastern Florida (19 in Jacksonville and two in St. Augustine
).
that could be approached from both sides, and used aluminum sliding glass doors which were a novelty at the time. The overhanging roof design also provided shelter for drive-through customers during north Florida's frequent rainstorms.
Hardwick & Lee also designed dozens of other buildings in the Jacksonville area including the Haydon Burns Library
and Friendship Fountain
.
The relatively short lifespan of the second series combined with their bland appearance occasionally leads to locals misremembering that these stores were built in the manner of the earlier Hardwick & Lee design.
The dairy was sold to the Suzia Foods Corporation in January 1996. The land that constituted the dairy headquarters and farm was a sizable piece of property located off Bowden Rd. on the city's south side. The land was redeveloped in 2000 as an office park known as "The Silos", a reference to the land's previous appearance and function. Yet what has endured the rapid population growth and environmental changes of the last 20 years are the iconic Skinner Dairy "Milk Houses".
Skinner Dairy stores have been a recurring subject for artist Jonathan Lux, who has been incorporating them into his paintings since at least 2004.
In March 2008 the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens
hosted a symposium titled Mid Century Modern Architecture in Jacksonville. The Hardwick & Lee Skinner Dairies were featured in the accompanying catalogue, which sampled the most significant architecture in Jacksonville, that has endured from that period.
Second wave
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
from the 1950s until the mid-1990s.
Origin
The family of Samuel Benjamin "Ben" Skinner operated a dairyDairy
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...
farm on a portion of their vast land holdings in northeast Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
beginning in the early 1950s. During the late 50s the growing influence of grocery stores made it more difficult for small, independent dairies to remain financially solvent. The decision was made to build small freestanding "milk houses" in residential neighborhoods. These stores offered milk and other dairy products and they were ideally suited to replace the declining milk home delivery service. The first store was built in 1958 and the chain peaked in 1985 with 21 stores throughout northeastern Florida (19 in Jacksonville and two in St. Augustine
St. Augustine
-People:* Augustine of Hippo or Augustine of Hippo , father of the Latin church* Augustine of Canterbury , first Archbishop of Canterbury* Augustine Webster, an English Catholic martyr.-Places:*St. Augustine, Florida, United States...
).
Architectural design of stores
Created by the architectural firm of Hardwick & Lee, the Skinner's Milk Houses were thoughtfully designed and visually interesting structures that became an iconic presence throughout the Jacksonville area. Under their pitched "butterfly" roofs, each identical store was painted orange, grey, and white, incorporated a drive-throughDrive-through
A drive-through, or drive-thru, is a type of service provided by a business that allows customers to purchase products without leaving their cars. The format was first pioneered in the United States in the 1930s but has since spread to other countries. The first recorded use of a bank using a drive...
that could be approached from both sides, and used aluminum sliding glass doors which were a novelty at the time. The overhanging roof design also provided shelter for drive-through customers during north Florida's frequent rainstorms.
Hardwick & Lee also designed dozens of other buildings in the Jacksonville area including the Haydon Burns Library
Haydon Burns Library
The Haydon Burns Library is a former library in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. It served as the main library in the Jacksonville Public Library system from 1965 until 2005, when it was replaced by the current facility. It is named for W. Haydon Burns, who served as Mayor of Jacksonville for...
and Friendship Fountain
Friendship Fountain
Friendship Fountain is a large fountain in Jacksonville, Florida. It is located in St. Johns River Park at the west end of Downtown Jacksonville's Southbank Riverwalk attraction...
.
Final years
Skinner Dairy transitioned to new management in the mid 1980's. Under the new management a second wave of Milk House construction began in 1987. For unknown reasons the modernist Hardwick & Lee design was replaced by a new design (architect unknown) which was pedestrian and forgettable. The location and quantities of the second series is unknown, but it is estimated that between one and two dozen were built from 1987-95. Three Skinner's Dairy stores built in 1987 are in Clay County.The relatively short lifespan of the second series combined with their bland appearance occasionally leads to locals misremembering that these stores were built in the manner of the earlier Hardwick & Lee design.
The dairy was sold to the Suzia Foods Corporation in January 1996. The land that constituted the dairy headquarters and farm was a sizable piece of property located off Bowden Rd. on the city's south side. The land was redeveloped in 2000 as an office park known as "The Silos", a reference to the land's previous appearance and function. Yet what has endured the rapid population growth and environmental changes of the last 20 years are the iconic Skinner Dairy "Milk Houses".
Legacy
Today the former Skinner Dairy stores exist as a curious and visually delightful link to the economic and social history of the region. As of December 2007, 16 of the original 21 stores still exist in one form or another, most with their distinctive roofs intact. They have been adapted to a variety of businesses. Current tenants include several drive-thru restaurants and sandwich shops, a florist, a dry-cleaner, a coffee shop, golf instruction, and a truck bed liner installation business. Some adaptations required additions that did not preserve the original aesthetics. Five are presently in an original state or close to it.In March 2008 the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens
Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens
The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens is a public museum located in Jacksonville, Florida. The museum focuses on portraying European and American artistic paintings. The museum also has a large collection of Meissen porcelain...
hosted a symposium titled Mid Century Modern Architecture in Jacksonville. The Hardwick & Lee Skinner Dairies were featured in the accompanying catalogue, which sampled the most significant architecture in Jacksonville, that has endured from that period.
Store locations and present condition
All locations are in Jacksonville, FL, except for #8, #17, and #18. Locations for all second wave stores are individually cited.- 1958 Edgewood Ave.
- 1958 Cassat Ave.
- 1958 Arlington Blvd.
- 1958 Spring Park Rd.
- 1959 Ortega Blvd. (moved in 1980) (Torn down c. 1992. Presently used for car wash parking lot)
- 1959 St. Johns Ave.
- 1960 Pearl St.
- 1962 Jacksonville Beach
- 1962 McDuff Ave. (Torn down c. 1990. Bought by high school for parking lot.)
- 1962 Dunn Ave.
- 1963 Shirley Ave.
- 1963 Bowden Rd.
- 1965 San Juan Ave.
- 1965 Pearl St. (moved in 1983 to Old St. Augustine Rd.) (Gutted and rebuilt c. 2000. While some elements remain deep within the interior, exterior is completely unrecognizable.)
- 1968 Melson Ave.
- 1968 Arlington Ave. (Torn down July 2007. Presently used for parking yachts and a mobile billboard.)
- 1970 St. Augustine
- 1970 St. Augustine (Anastasia Island)
- 1972 Merrill Rd.
- 1972 Ricker Rd. (Abandoned. Roof missing.)
- 1984 Pall Mall Dr. (Torn down c. 1992. Presently a parking lot behind a restaurant.)
Second wave
- 1987 270 College Drive, Orange Park (Snack & Gas)
- 1987 8 Cinnamon St. Middleburg (Cinnamon Street Food Mart)
- 1987 1691 Russell Rd. Middleburg (Mr. B's Home Fries)
- 1987 764 College St. Jacksonville