Lawrence H. Wentzell Sr’s glass milk bottle collection is one that many would envy. The Massachusetts man collected almost 2,500 milk bottles, starting with bottles from his family’s dairy, S. H. Wentzell & Sons Pioneer Dairy. Mr. Wentzell’s family is searching for a collector or a museum interested in taking the collection. Click here for the entire story.
For years the stories were enough family history to satisfy Mr. Wentzell. But then, around the time he retired from one of his two jobs in the early 1990s, he thought it might be nice to find an actual tangible piece of that history and he began a search for milk bottles from the family’s dairy. He found some and learned that collecting milk bottles could become a passion-filled hobby.
He expanded his collection to include other bottles from the city and, before long, the area. And as is wont to happen with collectors of things, eventually he expanded again and started searching out bottles from around Massachusetts.
With the man who most loved the bottles gone, the Wentzell family has pondered what to do with the 2,500 or so specimens he’d lovingly collected. They checked with local historical societies and museums, and a collector did buy a few that he badly wanted. Still, it’s too large a collection for any one place to take.
“If we could keep some part of the collection together,” Mrs. Wentzell said, “I think he would want that. We don’t have to sell them. I just want to do the right thing.”
Mrs. Wentzell said she knows her husband had talked with a fellow collector about what would happen to their bottles should something happen to him, but she’s not sure they ever decided anything specific. Friends are helping her look for appropriate places to donate some of the collection, places where the bottles will be seen and appreciated, but it has not been easy.
Source: Kim Ring, Telegram & Gazette
Photo Credit: T&G Staff Photos/Steve Lanava
83 Comments on “Mass. Glass Milk Bottle Collection Featured”
in my country, there is almost no bottle glass, but largely from plastic, and therse in no recycling… so the customer costumer spend a lot their money juf for junk…
in my country, there is almost no bottle glass, but largely from plastic, and therse in no recycling… so the customer costumer spend a lot their money juf for junk…
in my country, there is almost no bottle glass, but largely from plastic, and therse in no recycling… so the customer costumer spend a lot their money juf for junk…
I’m searching for a bottle from whethersfield dairy in danvers ma.
my grandfather was a milkman there. my dad, who is 76 would love one. if anyone has one and is willing to sell it i’d be interested.
I’m searching for a bottle from whethersfield dairy in danvers ma.
my grandfather was a milkman there. my dad, who is 76 would love one. if anyone has one and is willing to sell it i’d be interested.
I’m searching for a bottle from whethersfield dairy in danvers ma.
my grandfather was a milkman there. my dad, who is 76 would love one. if anyone has one and is willing to sell it i’d be interested.
I ahve a milk bottle from Brookfild Dairy of N.Waymouth, MA baby bottle head patent #98609 with saying For Mothers Who Care in very good condition no cracks or chips wondering if it is worth anything, thank you Bill Labbe.
I ahve a milk bottle from Brookfild Dairy of N.Waymouth, MA baby bottle head patent #98609 with saying For Mothers Who Care in very good condition no cracks or chips wondering if it is worth anything, thank you Bill Labbe.
I ahve a milk bottle from Brookfild Dairy of N.Waymouth, MA baby bottle head patent #98609 with saying For Mothers Who Care in very good condition no cracks or chips wondering if it is worth anything, thank you Bill Labbe.
Looking for Joseph Malino(w)ski or Meadowcrest Dairy of Massachusetts. Family interests.
Looking for Joseph Malino(w)ski or Meadowcrest Dairy of Massachusetts. Family interests.
Looking for Joseph Malino(w)ski or Meadowcrest Dairy of Massachusetts. Family interests.
Looking for Cherry Hill Dairy Holyoke, MA. Was family owned, would love to have a piece of my history if any could tell me where to find this bottle!
Looking for Cherry Hill Dairy Holyoke, MA. Was family owned, would love to have a piece of my history if any could tell me where to find this bottle!
Looking for Cherry Hill Dairy Holyoke, MA. Was family owned, would love to have a piece of my history if any could tell me where to find this bottle!
Looking for PROKOP’S DAIRY LUDLOW MASS, milk bottle was family owned.
The bottle has red lettering and the name is slightly slanted.
Looking for PROKOP’S DAIRY LUDLOW MASS, milk bottle was family owned.
The bottle has red lettering and the name is slightly slanted.
Looking for PROKOP’S DAIRY LUDLOW MASS, milk bottle was family owned.
The bottle has red lettering and the name is slightly slanted.
Hillcrest Farm in Framingham was where I grew up. It was my family’s dairy farm. I would love to have a milk bottle with the name on it. Thanks.
C. D. Peterson
Hillcrest Farm in Framingham was where I grew up. It was my family’s dairy farm. I would love to have a milk bottle with the name on it. Thanks.
C. D. Peterson
Hillcrest Farm in Framingham was where I grew up. It was my family’s dairy farm. I would love to have a milk bottle with the name on it. Thanks.
C. D. Peterson
Looking for Haluch’s Dairy bottles. My great grandfather started the dairy and I would love to have some bottles. The early bottles were embossed and said “Ludwick Haluch, Ludlow Mass.” The later bottles are pryo and say “Haluch’s Dairy, Ludlow, Mass.” in green cursive lettering. Please let me know if you have any. Thank you
Looking for Haluch’s Dairy bottles. My great grandfather started the dairy and I would love to have some bottles. The early bottles were embossed and said “Ludwick Haluch, Ludlow Mass.” The later bottles are pryo and say “Haluch’s Dairy, Ludlow, Mass.” in green cursive lettering. Please let me know if you have any. Thank you
Looking for Haluch’s Dairy bottles. My great grandfather started the dairy and I would love to have some bottles. The early bottles were embossed and said “Ludwick Haluch, Ludlow Mass.” The later bottles are pryo and say “Haluch’s Dairy, Ludlow, Mass.” in green cursive lettering. Please let me know if you have any. Thank you
Looking for S.Z. Pelczar dairy bottles or memorabilia. Dairy farm was located in Dracut, MA. Thanks! – A Pelczar granddaughter
Looking for S.Z. Pelczar dairy bottles or memorabilia. Dairy farm was located in Dracut, MA. Thanks! – A Pelczar granddaughter
Looking for S.Z. Pelczar dairy bottles or memorabilia. Dairy farm was located in Dracut, MA. Thanks! – A Pelczar granddaughter
My family owned Scheinost Bros. and Green Pine Dairy. and I have a nice little collection of their bottles.
If you are still looking for a home for them maybe you could divide them by the towns they were from and donate them under his name to the local historical museums for each town. They are a great display for a towns history.
My family owned Scheinost Bros. and Green Pine Dairy. and I have a nice little collection of their bottles.
If you are still looking for a home for them maybe you could divide them by the towns they were from and donate them under his name to the local historical museums for each town. They are a great display for a towns history.
My family owned Scheinost Bros. and Green Pine Dairy. and I have a nice little collection of their bottles.
If you are still looking for a home for them maybe you could divide them by the towns they were from and donate them under his name to the local historical museums for each town. They are a great display for a towns history.
Looking for any Travis Dairy (Fall River, Ma area) milk bottles. Most were destroyed in the early 1950s when the dairy was purchased by Bliss Bros. but have seen 3 examples.
Looking for any Travis Dairy (Fall River, Ma area) milk bottles. Most were destroyed in the early 1950s when the dairy was purchased by Bliss Bros. but have seen 3 examples.
Looking for any Travis Dairy (Fall River, Ma area) milk bottles. Most were destroyed in the early 1950s when the dairy was purchased by Bliss Bros. but have seen 3 examples.
Matt,
Did the collection have any Hillcrest Farm bottles? How can I reach the Wentzells, do you know?
Hillcrest was my family farm in Framingham.
Thanks.
Pete Peterson
Matt,
Did the collection have any Hillcrest Farm bottles? How can I reach the Wentzells, do you know?
Hillcrest was my family farm in Framingham.
Thanks.
Pete Peterson
Matt,
Did the collection have any Hillcrest Farm bottles? How can I reach the Wentzells, do you know?
Hillcrest was my family farm in Framingham.
Thanks.
Pete Peterson
Do you have any NAVAROLI milk bottles from West Boylston, MA? Please contact me if you do. This is a family item I would like to retrieve by purchase. Thank you.
Do you have any NAVAROLI milk bottles from West Boylston, MA? Please contact me if you do. This is a family item I would like to retrieve by purchase. Thank you.
Do you have any NAVAROLI milk bottles from West Boylston, MA? Please contact me if you do. This is a family item I would like to retrieve by purchase. Thank you.
I have a half pint milk bottle, it is from “H.F. Blades Dairy Farmingham, Ma.”
I dug it up in my backyard in Framingham 40 years ago. I didn’t notice that Framingham was mis-spelled on the bottle. I cannot not find any info on this dairy farm anywhere.
Does any one have or know where I can find info on H.F. Blades Dairy?
thanks,
george
I have a half pint milk bottle, it is from “H.F. Blades Dairy Farmingham, Ma.”
I dug it up in my backyard in Framingham 40 years ago. I didn’t notice that Framingham was mis-spelled on the bottle. I cannot not find any info on this dairy farm anywhere.
Does any one have or know where I can find info on H.F. Blades Dairy?
thanks,
george
I have a half pint milk bottle, it is from “H.F. Blades Dairy Farmingham, Ma.”
I dug it up in my backyard in Framingham 40 years ago. I didn’t notice that Framingham was mis-spelled on the bottle. I cannot not find any info on this dairy farm anywhere.
Does any one have or know where I can find info on H.F. Blades Dairy?
thanks,
george
I am looking for a bottle from Meadowcrest Dairy Farm in Northampton, Massachusetts. Please let me know if you have any. Thank you.
I am looking for a bottle from Meadowcrest Dairy Farm in Northampton, Massachusetts. Please let me know if you have any. Thank you.
I am looking for a bottle from Meadowcrest Dairy Farm in Northampton, Massachusetts. Please let me know if you have any. Thank you.
looking to purchase a John Navaroli Dairy West Boylston, MA bottle. He was my great grandfather.
Please advise
looking to purchase a John Navaroli Dairy West Boylston, MA bottle. He was my great grandfather.
Please advise
looking to purchase a John Navaroli Dairy West Boylston, MA bottle. He was my great grandfather.
Please advise
Hi Lori Mitchell,
I am always in search of Haluch’s Dairy, Ludlow MA bottles. I’m often looking in local antique shops and flea markets and I know I have definitely seen the dairy bottles that you are looking for. I will keep an eye out on my travels for Meadowcrest Dairy bottles and will let you know if I see any. Good luck!
Tracy
Hi Lori Mitchell,
I am always in search of Haluch’s Dairy, Ludlow MA bottles. I’m often looking in local antique shops and flea markets and I know I have definitely seen the dairy bottles that you are looking for. I will keep an eye out on my travels for Meadowcrest Dairy bottles and will let you know if I see any. Good luck!
Tracy
Hi Lori Mitchell,
I am always in search of Haluch’s Dairy, Ludlow MA bottles. I’m often looking in local antique shops and flea markets and I know I have definitely seen the dairy bottles that you are looking for. I will keep an eye out on my travels for Meadowcrest Dairy bottles and will let you know if I see any. Good luck!
Tracy
3/29/13 – There is a fantastic oil building in historic Naples Maine on the Songo River which is exclusively for antique bottles. Part of or all of this collection could go on perminent display should you opt to sell it or donate it for display as the case may be. Please consider the suggestion and advise. Thank Yiou, Dan Lakatos
3/29/13 – There is a fantastic oil building in historic Naples Maine on the Songo River which is exclusively for antique bottles. Part of or all of this collection could go on perminent display should you opt to sell it or donate it for display as the case may be. Please consider the suggestion and advise. Thank Yiou, Dan Lakatos
3/29/13 – There is a fantastic oil building in historic Naples Maine on the Songo River which is exclusively for antique bottles. Part of or all of this collection could go on perminent display should you opt to sell it or donate it for display as the case may be. Please consider the suggestion and advise. Thank Yiou, Dan Lakatos
Looking for any Westport mass dairy bottles specifically bojuma dairy westport harbir
Looking for any Westport mass dairy bottles specifically bojuma dairy westport harbir
Looking for any Westport mass dairy bottles specifically bojuma dairy westport harbir
Hi Tracy,
RE: Haluch’s Dairy, Ludlow MA. We’re from Ludlow and my son is a bottle hound. He has some Haluch bottles I think he would consider parting with. Maybe the admin of this blog can send you my email address. John
Hi Tracy,
RE: Haluch’s Dairy, Ludlow MA. We’re from Ludlow and my son is a bottle hound. He has some Haluch bottles I think he would consider parting with. Maybe the admin of this blog can send you my email address. John
Hi Tracy,
RE: Haluch’s Dairy, Ludlow MA. We’re from Ludlow and my son is a bottle hound. He has some Haluch bottles I think he would consider parting with. Maybe the admin of this blog can send you my email address. John
Hi John!
Thank you for replying about the Haluch’s dairy bottles. If your son has any Haluch bottles that he is willing to part with I would be more than happy to purchase them. Please feel free to contact me directly with any information. I look forward to hearing from you!
tracylhaluch@hotmail.com
Thanks again!
Tracy
Hi John!
Thank you for replying about the Haluch’s dairy bottles. If your son has any Haluch bottles that he is willing to part with I would be more than happy to purchase them. Please feel free to contact me directly with any information. I look forward to hearing from you!
tracylhaluch@hotmail.com
Thanks again!
Tracy
Hi John!
Thank you for replying about the Haluch’s dairy bottles. If your son has any Haluch bottles that he is willing to part with I would be more than happy to purchase them. Please feel free to contact me directly with any information. I look forward to hearing from you!
tracylhaluch@hotmail.com
Thanks again!
Tracy
I am looking for a glass embossed bottle that reads: Geo. A Boynton, Beachmont.
Geo A Boynton was my great-great grandfather and owned this milk business. If anyone has one or knows where I may purchase one, I would love to hear from you. My email address is kpaulsen8486@gmail.com My mom is 78 and has been looking for one for decades.
Thanks for reading!
Karen
I am looking for a glass embossed bottle that reads: Geo. A Boynton, Beachmont.
Geo A Boynton was my great-great grandfather and owned this milk business. If anyone has one or knows where I may purchase one, I would love to hear from you. My email address is kpaulsen8486@gmail.com My mom is 78 and has been looking for one for decades.
Thanks for reading!
Karen
Sears Dairy Chelmsford MA where I grew up. It was my family’s
farm. I would love to have a milk bottle. Please let me know where
I could find one.
Sears Dairy Chelmsford MA where I grew up. It was my family’s
farm. I would love to have a milk bottle. Please let me know where
I could find one.
I would like to buy a Village Dairy milk bottle from Sterling MA for my dad, who regrets not having one from family farm.
Thank you.
I would like to buy a Village Dairy milk bottle from Sterling MA for my dad, who regrets not having one from family farm.
Thank you.
do you have Village Dairy, Sterling, MA, milk bottle for sale; my dad regrets not having one from family farm.
do you have Village Dairy, Sterling, MA, milk bottle for sale; my dad regrets not having one from family farm.
My great grandfather had a Dairy in Salem, Mass. The name on the bottle is J. Kordalski with a big “K” center in the middle and Salem underneath the “K”. I would love to have one or at least have some information on the Dairy that was sold to a big company back in the depression for $500.
Many Thanks!
My great grandfather had a Dairy in Salem, Mass. The name on the bottle is J. Kordalski with a big “K” center in the middle and Salem underneath the “K”. I would love to have one or at least have some information on the Dairy that was sold to a big company back in the depression for $500.
Many Thanks!
My grandfather had a milk bottling business in Massachusetts. We have one quart size bottle and would be very very interested in purchasing the Kordalski bottle.
My grandfather had a milk bottling business in Massachusetts. We have one quart size bottle and would be very very interested in purchasing the Kordalski bottle.
I’m looking for Nagelschmidt’s Dairy Milk Bottles, which were in the Pittsfield/Lenox MA area of Western Mass from around 1960 to 1966. Prior to that it was named Clark’s Dairy from 1948-1960 and I know there’s some Clark’s Dairy bottles that say “A.L. Nagelschmidt proprietor” that’d I’d be interested in too. It was my grandfather’s dairy and I’m searching for a piece of my family history. If anyone out there has one and is willing to sell, or knows someone who has one, I’d sincerely appreciate it!!
I’m looking for Nagelschmidt’s Dairy Milk Bottles, which were in the Pittsfield/Lenox MA area of Western Mass from around 1960 to 1966. Prior to that it was named Clark’s Dairy from 1948-1960 and I know there’s some Clark’s Dairy bottles that say “A.L. Nagelschmidt proprietor” that’d I’d be interested in too. It was my grandfather’s dairy and I’m searching for a piece of my family history. If anyone out there has one and is willing to sell, or knows someone who has one, I’d sincerely appreciate it!!
Hi All I am looking Westport/Acoaxet Massachusetts milk bottles. I am trying to put a collection together to hopefully one day display at the Westport Agricultural Fair. Also looking for Dartmouth, Massachusetts milk bottles. PLEASE contact me. Thank you. -Sam
Hi All I am looking Westport/Acoaxet Massachusetts milk bottles. I am trying to put a collection together to hopefully one day display at the Westport Agricultural Fair. Also looking for Dartmouth, Massachusetts milk bottles. PLEASE contact me. Thank you. -Sam
Hi All I am looking for my grandfathers milk bottle.
IT is a clear glass quart bottle embossed. The words on the bottle say. MOCHAK DAIRY. It has a letter M on the front of bottle.
On the bottom front it will say Westfield, Massachuetts.
PLEASE contact me.
THANK YOU
Sincerely,
Richard Mochak
Hi All I am looking for my grandfathers milk bottle.
IT is a clear glass quart bottle embossed. The words on the bottle say. MOCHAK DAIRY. It has a letter M on the front of bottle.
On the bottom front it will say Westfield, Massachuetts.
PLEASE contact me.
THANK YOU
Sincerely,
Richard Mochak
Hi,
I’ve lived in Uxbridge Ma all my life and worked on the local farms since I was 12 years old. I’d like to complete my current collection of Uxbridge and/or Whitinsville milk bottles. I’m interested in buying anything you have for these towns and I’ll also post pics of the bottles on my site.
https://www.facebook.com/Uxbridgenowandthen
Thanks for any help!
Don
My name is Mark Nagelschmidt and I found your name on the internet related to a Merrimack Valley Antique Bottle Club. It had your contact information as a milk bottle dealer from their most recent show. My grandpa, Albert Leroy Nagelschmidt, operated a dairy out of Lenox MA from the late 40’s to the mid 60’s. From ’48 to ’60 it was known as Clark’s Dairy. My dad actually has one Clark’s Dairy bottle that has printed on the bottle A.L. Nagelschmidt and Son (but lettering is almost no longer visible). What our family doesn’t have is a Nagelschmidt’s Dairy bottle. Grandpa operated under the name “Nagelschmidt’s Dairy” from 1960 to 1966, when he sold the business to Crescent Creamery in Pittsfield. I have been on an exhaustive search to find some Nagelschmidt’s Dairy milk bottles to purchase for my family. It means a lot to me for obvious family and sentimental reasons. I even wrote up and got an article published in the Berkshire Eagle newspaper out of Pittsfield on my story.
Might you have any of the bottles I am looking for, or know of any collectors of milk bottles in the Western MA area (or CT and VT) that I might reach out to?