The Building

The story of the Blue Earth Co-Operative Creamery, built in 1900.

A Landmark on Main Street

Blue Earth Co-Operative Creamery building, front view showing the original brick facade Side view of the creamery building on a sunny day in Blue Earth

The Blue Earth Co-Operative Creamery has stood on Main Street in Blue Earth, Minnesota since 1900. For over a century, this two-story brick building has been a part of the community, first as a working creamery producing Blue Earth Creamery Butter, and now as the home of the Blue Earth Cooperative.

When Heather and Jeff moved to Minnesota and found this building, they knew it was something special. A big, historic space with good bones and a story worth preserving. They signed the offer that same day.

Heather and Jeff on the day they purchased the creamery building Vintage postcards of the Blue Earth Co-Operative Creamery from the early 1900s

From Creamery to Cooperative

The building needs love. Over 125 years old, it requires careful, ongoing restoration to keep it standing for another century. That's where the bakery comes in.

Blue Earth Cooperative Bakery was born to help fund the building's repairs and renovations. Every loaf of bread, every focaccia, every batch of cookies goes directly toward preserving this piece of Blue Earth's history.

"I still feel that it was meant to be, us buying the creamery and moving to Blue Earth." Heather McElyea-Chunn, Faribault County Register

A Piece of History

Original Blue Earth Co-Operative Creamery Association butter box

This original butter box from the Blue Earth Co-Operative Creamery Association is a reminder of what this building once was. The same walls that once housed butter production now hold rising bread dough and the smell of fresh sourdough.

It's a full-circle story: a cooperative creamery from 1900, now a cooperative bakery in the same building, still serving Blue Earth.

In the News

"She Turned a Hobby Into a Business"

The Faribault County Register featured Heather's journey from hobby baker to small business owner, the story of finding the creamery building, and how Blue Earth Cooperative Bakery came to life.

Read the Full Article →

Support the Restoration

Want to help preserve this landmark? Every purchase from the bakery supports the building. You can also make a direct donation to the restoration fund.