In the 1890s, the creamery movement began in earnest in the Honey Lake Valley. One of the reasons for the slow development was there was no local skilled people to operate one.
One of the first creameries established was the Honey Lake Creamery located at Spoonville, east of Janesville and also known as Missouri Bend. The records are rather sketchy about the operation, though it appears it was placed into operation about 1895, by the Spoon Brothers. In addition, after a fire destroyed the plant in 1901, they brought James I. Christie as a partnership with the creamery and also that of a general merchandise store. The creamery was rebuilt with the equipment coming from the Diamond Mountain Creamery.
Changes were on the horizon. In 1904, Christie joined his brother, John B. in a store at Janesville. In 1905, The Spoons sold out to E.C. Brown. However, Brown was not interested in operating the creamery and it subsequently shut down. The abandoned building was used as storage. In the 1940s, it was moved a short distance to the Mulroney Ranch and converted into a barn.
A little note about the Christie Brothers. In 1919, James established Christie Furniture in Susanville. John took over the Eagle Lake Resort, hence the name of Christie Campground.
I still have a hutch from Christie Furniture. I didn’t realize they were that old. Interesting.