Abandoned Milk Can Creamery | Rhode Island Icon
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- Опубліковано 4 лют 2025
- It’s probably the most unique abandoned place in Rhode Island, and it sits on one of the most well traveled highways in the state. This thing is an abandoned icon that almost everyone has seen, and this isn’t even where it originally stood. That’s right, this whole thing was actually relocated here. Welcome to the abandoned Milk Can Creamery.
Filmed/Edited by Jason Allard
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Main Camera: DJI Osmo Pocket w/ Freewell Lens Attachments
Editing: Final Cut Pro X w/ custom plugins
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The thirty-two-foot tall bottle was built in 1931 at a time when every roadside business was looking for a creative way to entice passing motorists to stop and spend money; a time when modern zoning and signage laws hadn't yet reined in the imaginations of ambitious entrepreneurs. Wacky architecture, formally known as "roadside vernacular architecture," was one such marketing gambit.
It can be said that The Milk Can is a survivor of that trend, but only kind of. It still exists, but it's not being preserved, it's a long way from being operational, and as of right now it’s abandoned.
It was constructed in 1931 for Charles Plante and started its life as part of an ice cream stand literally called The Milk Can. It was purchased from Charles by Joseph Mariani in 1947. At that time it was still just an ice cream stand with take-out windows and picnic table seating. Mariani expanded the business to offer short order food like burgers and fried clams.
The seasonal business operated from late March to November. Mariani's son, also named Joe, in a 2008 Valley Breeze article, recalled working there from 1955-'65. They'd be so busy in the summer, he said “There was no set closing time. We'd stay open until business waned. Sometimes we'd be scooping ice cream at 2am, especially on hot nights when people couldn't sleep. I used to get callouses on my hands from all that scooping."
It was clear that business was booming, and people loved the Milk Can. But the good times came to an end in 1968 with the death of Joe, Sr.'s wife. The stand was closed and never re-opened.
On January 8th 1989 Eastman Brothers Movers of East Greenwich moved the can a mile up the road horizontally on a special built cradle.
In 1990, after the relocation and a $50,000 restoration of the Milk Can, the new owners hit a massive roadblock, this one big enough to shut down the entire operation. It was reported in a Providence Journal Article in April 1990 that "The state has informed Surtel and D'Andrea that ground water beneath the still-unopened can is highly contaminated by unleaded gasoline compounds, including benzene, a known carcinogen.
According to another article in the Providence Journal, the well supplying the water was drilled 10 months after the Milk Can was moved - so this was a surprise to everyone. Preservationists were horrified to learn that the Milk Can was standing on contaminated land.
Co-owner Stanley Surtel was so upset by the news that he had trouble sleeping for a week. "I was waking up every day at 3 o'clock in the morning with pains in my arms and legs from being nervous," he said.
It was too much to handle, and unable to secure a clean source of water the Milk Can remained closed through 1990, and every year since. It has now been vacant longer than it was in operation.
What’s next for the Milk Can?
In 2012, the previously contaminated groundwater was retested following a 20-year remediation and found to comply with federal and state water quality standards.
In 2018 Steven D’Andrea, grandson of the last owner was in talks with municipal and state authorities about developing the Milk Can and the surrounding property into a commercial space. “I’m really just trying to continue what my grandfather had started and wasn’t able to finish and get it back online,” D’Andrea told The Valley Breeze.
Development talks have been quiet lately, but seeing as it’s still owned by the same family and there’s a revision to reopen, I’m hopeful for its future. Even in it’s current shape, it’s still a Rhode Island Icon, so next time you drive by on RT 146 and see the Can, pour out some milk in honor of a bygone era, and hope something positive happens here.
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I grew up and lived in ri most of my life, I've never seen the milk can opened but there's always been something about it. SAVE THE MILK CAN!! ❤️
As a child in the late 50's and early 60's my parents would take me here on Sundays. I would hang over the front seat (no seat belt) and shout out "I found it !" When we got over the hill going north. Great memories, I go by there often.
Near woonsocket
NS born and raised. Thanks so much for this. Brilliant. Boo hiss to Pawtucket. So many children could have benefited. This would be put to use if donated to my animal rescue.
Little secret, there is one in raynham Massachusetts that is still open, they serve breakfast lunch and ice cream
no there's not . what's in Raynham is the milk bottle thas even name of it the milk bottle he talkig about the milk can . mass had the milk bottles and ri had the milk can different company's but for real good place to eat i use to go there as a kid i took my kids couple years back
Thanks for this. Driven by the milk can countless times and even my wife didn't know the history. Hope it opens again one day. Places like this deserve preservation and I think channels like yours help bring attention to that.
There is one in raynham Massachusetts that is open
I’m from NS and remember the whole fiasco as a kid. Thanks for the video, it’s a nice reminder of home!
I can't wait for this channel to blow up. Incredible content, delivery, writing, and editing.
Totally agreed!!!
I can imagine that the Milk Can received a lot of traffic from the Rustic Drive-In.
I'm not originally from RI but absolutely love learning about the history of stuff I literally see everyday. I look forward to watching and learning more!
My Dad Roland owned the gas station right next to the Milk Can, it was a Texaco. That's where I played as a kid.
Trying to scan my memory of when I've ever seen a Texaco in North Smithfield let alone RI.
It's sad that such a cool local icon, still sits abandoned. It's down the street from our family home.
I grew up in Mansfield MA. Rte 140 in Norton on the Norton Reservoir was Frates. Ice cream and dogs/ burgers. Who could forget Frates?
I just heard scarpeti from rhode islands own 94 hjy radio host was recommending your channel on live radio!! Nice work!
Nice video and story of the history of the Milk Can. A few minor errors though. The Eastman Bros. Building Movers were located in West Greenwich, not East Greenwich. The two Brothers, Donald V. and the late Milton F. Eastman owned and operated the company. The milk can was actually moved it TWO pieces. The long section was moved on a steel cradle designed and constructed by the two brothers. The second section was moved on a 3 axle trailer I still own to this day. I worked on that job with Don and Milt, and I remember it well. It's too bad that due to bureaucratic red tape and bad luck it still sits empty today.
Yep, spent many a night at the Town Tavern in conversation with Milt. Sometimes his genius amazed me! I had a house on piers that needed a bit of shoring up. For the sum of three beers Milt drew up on a couple napkins exactly what I needed to do! He did stop by to make sure I did it right! LOL!
I drive/ride by this almost every day. Awesome seeing you revisit the location! 🤙🏼🤙🏼
Rhode Island culture bebayyyyy!!!!
Route 146 has a bunch of old history with this milk can and drive-ins, I used to drive 146 to work in Attleboro from Worcester
that merge on to 295 tho
Wonderful story! I grew up in R.I. and I remember all of the locations of The Milk Can. Everyone's been there.I took a picture of it 2 days ago while stuck in traffic!
I remember passing this when I was little on 146
I grew up in Cranston and my grandparents lived in Woonsocket. On the way home from visiting them we would often stop and get ice cream at the Milk Can. That was in the 50s and 60s. Thanks so much for this video. Its brought back many fond memories.
My father has lived next door in Burrillville for over 30 years - I used to drive by it all the time. Another great video my friend 👍
I lived in Worcester and traveled 146 all the time. I always wondered what the story was . Thank you very much.
A great big THANK YOU ! for all that you do! Absolutely love your stories and videos ! Quite a few brings back so many happy/sad memories for this 'old' lady !
I go by this twice a day when working. I think about it all the time. Great research and video! I was not aware of the contaminated water. I always thought it should be turned into a co-op for the local high schools and run as a business and fundraiser for the kids. DD
There's one in South Dartmouth near Round hill beach. And also in New Bedford on Acushnet avenue. Both have been there many years now. And still open.😊
I’m so glad you chose this iconic landmark. Always wondered about its history. Thank you for the video! Keep going!
Well done Jason! My family (an assortment of 2 parents and 7 ever-excited kids in the back seats) went to The Milk Can regularly. There have been so many rumors about it but thanks to you we've got it straight. If The Milk Can can re-open - I'll be there :) Much appreciated!
Can’t count the Milk Can out yet! Thanks for watching
Yes , Thank you for look back in history .
Love seeing the milk can!
This is really well done. In fact, all of your vids are. Thanks for making it
That was fascinating and well done! Thank you Jason.
Great vid. I grew up in woonie. I glad u did this video
So much history in the tiniest state ... imagine if R.I. was the size of N.Y. or Me. Thank you for all your hard work that goes into creating these videos and it shows you do this out of love, enjoyment and curiosity. Well done !
You can always visit the Frates milk bottle in New Bedford, it's actually home to G & S Pizza nowadays.
Born , brought up in Burrillville and went often.. Rustic Drive in also..Joyland roller skating rink twice a month..Carrolls hamburgers.. R.I Reds at the Aud..Gaggers at Onlyville.. Mezza Luna pizza.. AH , Memories..
Another great video Jason thanks for sharing this with us very interesting
I always wondered about that building. Thank you.
Another great one. I've always wondered. Thanks for making such a huge effort to explain all these things I've always wondered!
Looking hopefully towards Gould Island. Emailed some information a while back
Hey, I used to drive passed this everyday. Thank you for this video
Oh shit 146 haha dude I'm digging the channel so far
I love this milk can. Every time I go by, I say: Save the Milk Can!
Such a sad and aggravating story
That really sucks what happened...
Hopefully they can turn it into a cool spot for people to enjoy and turn a profit, win win 👍
Awesome video, just moved to Woonsocket this year and this building is an icon around here
Always wondered about this place growing up. Thanks for the awesome content. 🥛🍼🐄🍦
I've seen Tshirts before with the Milk Can stand printed on it.
Hopefully they do something with it one of these years. I pass by it almost every day.
My dads uncle used to own the place!!! Uncle Joe 😂 Such an interesting piece of RI history!
Thank you! I've been wondering aboy this for the past 24 years (when I moved to Woonsocket). BTW I can see the old WMS from my apartment. 😀
No way. I'm a woonie boy 2
I used to work at the Subaru dealer, cool to know the history of that place.
I see this kinda often. And was wondering what happened. Now I know, thanks...👍🏻
Great video as always, I always pass by this when coming back to Mass from Rhode Island, thanks for sharing this piece of History
Blessed 2022 🤗 Thank u for all
Thanks for making this video…been driving by this for years! And always wanted to know he story …. I always thought it could also be a nuclear cooling tower… maybe call it Atomic Ice Cream? A few decades too late for the nuclear theme i suppose lol
We grew up in Bellingham, MA next to Woonsocket, RI and saw it many times......
Good stuff! Thanks 👍
Great video and story! Thank you!
I would like to see it reopened 👍
I once stopped on the side of the road just to take a picture for my college photog class. I got within 10 feet of the can and the owners approached at high speed in a truck to run me off...They WERE NOT happy I was there. Love that you were able to get this footage!
I drive past this every day and dream about owning it someday
Amazing video and editing as always!! Keep doing your thing!! Much love!!
Thank you much appreciated!
I'm pouring one out for the homies! Thanks Jason for the awesome backstory!
Former RI'er who now only works in RI. I worked on many sites that might provide you some good material.
1.WW2 gun turrets at Fisherman memorial park
2. Zambarano State Hospital in Burrillville. Many details I was told to never mention
3. Sylvia Torrey gravesite in SK. Found it. Legend says she was the only slave witch put to death during the witch hysteria
honestly I would love to hear more about the Zambarano state hospital. I drove past it a million times cruising down back roads, and 44, but could never find much of it online
Just found your videos, started with the Gould Island video. Great great stuff my friend. Loveing all the RI coverage.
Not too surprised that the groundwater had gasoline compounds it it, gas station right next door lol.
I think there is a second milk can presently located outside the Childrens Museum in Boston. I think there is a storywith this one because it was moved from Route 44 in Taunton, Mass. and the HP Hood milk company shares part of the story. Also I would like to here about the fait of the Point Street Elevated roadway which was near the Narragansett Electric Campus. I remember when I was small we would open all windows of the car and catch the smell of bread baking from the TIP TOP Bread company when traveling on the elevated roadway or driving on Eddy Street by the bakery.
That would be great if they brought it back to life! There was a rumor that a nearby property owner that could have supplied the property water, refused to for 20+ years, which would be sad if that was true!
Thats probably true , my guess some cantankerous old bag that probably was miserable and you know what they say misery loves company ! So typical you heard a story like that , ain't that always the way!
That was a really great informational video. Have passed by it occasionally for years. Can't remember it not being in that spot. I had no idea it had been moved there as recently as '89. Hope someone can fix it up and make a go of it.
Thank you for posting this I always wondered what this place was another amazing video
Thanks for watching!
I love what you are doing. Wish I could be there with you.
Awesome video! A well deserved sub. Keep up the great work!
Never knew the backstory, thanks Jason!
You failed to mention how it was indeed moved across 146 heading north. It was by the entrance to the drive in for years then got movies over next to the gulf station.
No, you're thinking of Coffee & Cream which had a coffee mug outside. See here: quahog.org/Attractions/Big_Coffee_Mug
My cousin Michael RIP lived in this when he was homeless in the 80’s .
They shoudl move it to Diamond Hill Park entrance across the street from the icecream shop. or ...maybe at the end of the boulevard on the east side.
Passed by there today. So very sad.
Have you looked at the shape of the Rustic Drive-in sign 😮 across from milk can bout 1/2 mile , It used to be an X rated only 😉
Wow I always see that randomly. Had no idea what it was
I drive by this like every month. very nice video
Good video. Thanks so much
There was once one on Route 138 in Raynham.
Still is!! Breakfast restaurant
@@ldbagge Nice to know. It was called Frattes Dairy I think. Passed it on family trips from Marblehead to Newport before Route 24 or whatever other highway my dad was avoiding. The dog track and cow auction were other highlights.
Ashamed this is being allowed to rot. History is being lost.
i live in ri and i swear ive seen this like 56 times or something
That family owns lakeside pools right next door … I used to work for the family many years ago … I remember when it was moved …
ason~ thank you,useful video- 🤠
Would pass by the milk can when it was on 146 on our way to Howard Johnson's
This was a part of my youth. Our grandparents lived in Woonsocket and on the way going or coming to visit, this was the family stop. It's a shame architecture like this doesn't exist anymore. You can travel from one end of the country to the other, and feel like you never left home. Back then, every town and state had its own identity and looked nothing like the one before it. Fast forward a few decades...corporate greed, monopolies, urban sprawl, gentrification and other ugly reminders of modern life bringing the same McDonalds, Walmart, CVS, Burger King, KFC, Home Depot, Dunkin Donuts, Target, and malls with the same stores inside, to Anytown USA. Gone are the small businesses like this which brought individuality and uniqueness to each town along the way. Actually, it was Howard Johnson that came up with the modern concept of uniformity for his restaurants many decades ago. Also, does anybody know the name of the similar restaurant directly across Route 146 from the Milk Can's original location? It was also an ice cream/hamburger stop, with a red and white building. It closed around the same time.
I always wondered about this. My father always said it was moved there, guess he was right lol
The original location across the highway was a great place for a lime rickey, in the mid 1960s.
When I was growing up in the late '70's, we would go to Frate's. It was a milk bottle ice cream stand of the same nature. It was on Route One on the Plainville/North Attleboro, Mass. line. The bottle is long gone, but I have always wondered what ever became of it. I did hear a story how there were originally 3 bottles built. The one in this video leads me to think this is the second one. Any info on the third ( or more)?
The milk can has an (also abandoned) twin in Raynham on Route 138. No idea if they’re actually related or not.
My Grand Uncle Erick Sjöberg built it. Not saying here, but my relatives in Holden confirms it.
Make it a bong and open a weed dispensary
... There's another big milk can.. in Raynham, Masachusetts . . .
I remember the push to save this structure when I was a kid. Boomers -- actual boomers, not the figurative ones -- were the ones who didn't want to see the milk jug go. I guess the effort was successful, because the milk can has stood there unused and decrepit for decades since then. It's not a surprise that no one wants to invest in the building for their business. It's not a good spot to pull over. People are speeding past that particular stretch of the road. So, if the thing isn't viable as a business, and no one wants to spend money to take care of the structure, so be it. Typical Rhode Island stuff that a bunch of people fight to keep a piece of junk only to let it rot.
Interesting
The old mills dotting RI are toxic as well. The dye mills' floors are so contaminated that they are impossible to move.
Joseph Mariani is my grandfather!
BIG MILK WOOOOOO
We always drive by there when up that way. Seems like that place is cursed after that man’s wife died.
Dang!!! How old is this picture? Gulf Gas for $3.39!!!
Haven't I seen this video before? Is this a repost?
I believe he may have done a drone video of it once. Not a full video on the history
I made a short video about it back in 2018 but wanted to revisit it for the full story since it's so interesting. Plus I had some new editing tricks I wanted to try 👍🏻
That’s not where it was, it was near the gas station. I remember!
Oh is that the story behind it? Very interesting. I’m going to go take a hot steaming piss on it. 😂
I remember going there when I was little.