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Edisto Farms

SC PICTURE PROJECT 12 Comments

SC Picture Project / Bamberg County / Edisto Farms

Also known as Guess Farms, this dairy farm in rural Denmark was founded by James Barre Guess, Jr. in the early twentieth century and operated by the Guess family for three generations. The farm raised Guernsey cattle by the Edisto River and was known for its “Golden Guernsey” milk. By the 1930s an Edisto Farms distribution center was operating in Columbia.

Guess Farm Denmark

Treva Thomas Hammond of Rock Hill, 2015 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Guess was known nationally for his talents at raising cattle and in 1953 was given the Master Farmer Award by the State of South Carolina and in 1958 recognized as one of the country’s outstanding dairymen by the American Guernsey Cattle Club. Edisto Farms was bought out by Coburg Dairy in 1969. (The former dairy farm should not be confused with a goat farm in Ridgeville, also named Edisto Farms.)

Guess Dairy Farm

Treva Thomas Hammond of Rock Hill, 2015 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Reflections on Edisto Farms


Contributor Treva Thomas Hammond of Rock Hill tells us, “This is the scene that greets visitors as they enter the town of Denmark, South Carolina. The silos stand guard over the former Guess Dairy Farm.”

Add your own reflections here.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Eric G says

    April 15, 2022 at 9:24 PM

    I have a 1906 letter from James B. Guess on stationery of “S. D. M. Guess & Son, merchants and planters”. A fun look at the family then, with references to primary politics and some pending travel. Sent to Hattie Lee Guess in Killarney, Ireland.

    Reply
  2. Ben Schreiner says

    January 24, 2021 at 1:39 PM

    I just found a half-pint glass bottle in our yard in Camden, SC. It is marked “Golden Guernsey” “Edisto Farms Dairy” “Columbia S.C. Phone 6916”. There is nothing on the internet dating a four-digit phone number, but it had to be early, maybe the early 1920s? It contradicts some of the history of the dairy. When were four digit phone numbers discontinued? Thank you.

    Reply
  3. Sharon Elizabeth Ellsworth says

    November 18, 2020 at 5:45 PM

    I have an old Edisto Dairy milk delivery slip. I’ve never seen one before. When were these used? Just like to know how old it is. Please comment if anyone knows. Thank you!

    Reply
  4. Carolyn says

    November 4, 2020 at 6:59 PM

    Does anyone know if this farm used to be the Old Hays Plantation?

    Reply
  5. Leonard McDonald says

    February 13, 2018 at 7:01 PM

    I am originally from Hilda. I am now in Winston-Salem N.C. I found an Edisto Milk Bottle here in Winston. Does anyone know if this bottle could have been from this farm?

    Reply
    • SCIWAY says

      February 14, 2018 at 2:26 AM

      It’s certainly possible. Sometimes there will be markings somewhere that show a town name. Do you see that anywhere?

      When the plant moved near Columbia, we have seen bottles with the name that also say Columbia on them.

      Reply
  6. Eddie Hightower says

    February 3, 2018 at 9:12 PM

    Instead of Edisto Farms, the actual name of “Edisto Farms Dairy” would have avoided the confusion with the goat farm of Edisto Farms.

    Reply
  7. Eddie Hightower says

    January 19, 2016 at 1:40 PM

    Also, Beth Guess, isn't the small white building in the photo with the rust colored roof the old milk cooling building…if so…one of earliest memories of Denmark, before my daddy finally settled us in the town of his birth was the "milk cooling" building…one of his Cousins of the Johnson family would take him there. There was alway a tin cup in there where one could get a cupful of cold milk to drink on those long ago hot and humid Summer Days…what a wonderful and refreshing drink and wonderful Guess' Dairy memories…

    Reply
  8. Eddie Hightower says

    January 19, 2016 at 1:34 PM

    Thanks for your input, Beth Guess…Wasn't the "Son" in the title "SDM Guess & Son" actually James Barr Guess, Senior and the two of them were the founders of the Guess Dairy Farm in our beloved old hometown of Denmark, South Carolina…??? Just wondering…???

    Reply
  9. Eddie Hightower says

    January 19, 2016 at 8:41 AM

    Thanks, Beth Guess for your family history…

    Reply
  10. Beth Guess says

    February 9, 2015 at 12:57 PM

    Hi Treva,
    This is my immediate family. My great granddaddy also was in partnership with his father Samuel Daniel Medicus Guess as "SDM Guess & Son."
    Beth Guess

    Reply
    • SCIWAY says

      February 9, 2015 at 9:18 AM

      Hi, Beth! Thank you for sharing! We love personal connections such as yours!

      Reply

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ABOUT US

We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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