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 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.)
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.”
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.
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!
Does anyone know if this farm used to be the Old Hays Plantation?
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?
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.
Instead of Edisto Farms, the actual name of “Edisto Farms Dairy” would have avoided the confusion with the goat farm of Edisto Farms.
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…
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…???
Thanks, Beth Guess for your family history…
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
Hi, Beth! Thank you for sharing! We love personal connections such as yours!