When South Dartmouth’s Gulf Hill Farm Was a Dairy Farm

Joseph T. Fernandes and his wife Mary Foster Fernandes likely had no idea that their dream of a family dairy farm in South Dartmouth would still be the talk of the town so many years later.

The couple launched Gulf Hill Farm in 1896, and Gulf Hill Dairy was born.

The Dartmouth Rotary Club says, "This man of vision plotted the course and guided the destiny of Gulf Hill Dairy for fifty-two years."

The club's website says, "From a one-man, one horse and wagon beginning, Gulf Hill Dairy developed into one of New England's most modern, most successful dairy operations."

The Massachusetts Historical Commission says Gulf Hill Farm "once consisted of a large agricultural complex, which was located on both the north and south side of Gulf Road and along the east side of Bakerville Road to the west."

The commission says, "The properties associated with the farm complex include residential dwellings, barns, a processing plant, ancillary outbuildings, and an ice cream stand."

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Gulf Hill Dairy existed at a time when uniformed milkmen in milk trucks delivered farm-fresh milk in glass bottles to area homes. The company's motto was "You can whip our cream, but you can't beat our milk."

The Rotary Club says Gulf Hill Dairy introduced homogenized and multi-vitamin milk to southeastern Massachusetts. Gulf Hill Parlor, an ice cream parlor and restaurant, opened at the complex in 1965.

The Gulf Hill Dairy was sold in 1980 and the restaurant closed the following year.

After years on the market, the Gulf Hill Dairy Farm mansion was sold last year. Read my colleague Jackson's account of the sale, which includes amazing inside and outside photographs of the mansion.