The Iconic Maysville Carnation Milk Plant

By Ron Bailey

 Even in the 1920’s, Maysville leaders were trying to diversify it’s economy not just the big money from Tobacco.

Carnation decided to build their Carnation condenser and can factory here in Maysville, right off Forest Avenue. The cost to build his awesome plant was over a million dollars and it was built entirely of concrete. 

    When production started the Maysville, plant produced 100,000 pounds of milk per day and at the peak the plant produced 250,000 pounds of milk per day. Carnation was a staple of Maysville’s economy for years until they closed in 1993. The famous “Red and White” Carnation label was known all over the world as was the slogan “From contented cows”. Carnation in Maysville not only paid their employees but the farmers in our area received a weekly check for their milk that was delivered to the Forest Avenue plant. Looking back at Maysville’s early economy, don’t forget the Red and White Carnation and what they did for our area.