The proprietor of this dairy was Frank Henry Iselman.
According to the Manufactured Milk Products Journal (1925), Frank opened a new $5,000 dairy in La Porte in 1925. The building was constructed of red brick with cement floors and measured 25 by 60 feet. It is still standing today (as of 2026), with the Iselman’s Dairy stone nameplate set into the brickwork above the front door.
According to U.S. Census records, his WWII draft card, and his death certificate, Frank was born January 21, 1891, in Secor, Illinois. The 1910 and 1920 census records list his occupation as a farmer in La Porte County.
He died at age 57 from colon cancer on September 13, 1948, and is buried with his wife, Emma, in Pine Lake Cemetery in La Porte.
Iselman Dairy had a baseball team. We would welcome any photographs or additional information if anyone has material to share.
The Iselman Dairy at 906 1st Street in La Porte appears to have closed around 1954. The building later became a restaurant for a short time, and the 1958 city directory lists Lenick’s Dairy Bar at that address.
Also, many people may not know this, but Iselman had not one, but two dairy stores in Michigan City from around 1938 to 1946. One was at 11th and Franklin Streets (1016-1018 Franklin, on the northeast corner — the building is gone and a tower now stands there), and the other was at Barker Avenue and Franklin Street (1900 Franklin, southeast corner — the building is still there). There are currently no known Iselman Michigan City bottles. See the ads below.
Additional research is still needed.
La Porte
1924-25 – No listing
1926-27 — Iselman Frank H., 906 1st Street. (listed under dairies)
1929-30 — Iselman’s Dairy, 906 1st Street.
1931-32 — Iselman’s Frank Dairy, 906 1st Street.
1938 — Iselman’s Dairy, 1st & I Streets. Phone 686.
1940-41 — Iselman’s Dairy, 906 1st Street.
1943-44 — Iselman’s Dairy, 906 1st Street.
1952 — Iselman’s Dairy (A. O. & C. O. Van Vactor Theo Lilienthal), ice cream manufacturers, 906 1st St.
1954 (April phone book) — Iselman’s Dairy, 906 1st Street, phone #LPrt-3816
1954 — No listing (906 1st St. becomes a restaurant owned by Melvin H. Scharf)
1956 — No listing (906 1st St. becomes Lenick’s Dairy Bar)
Michigan City
1938-39 — Iselman’s Dairy Stores — Howard Blankschein, manager; complete line of dairy products, ice cream, lunchroom, cigars, and tobacco. Locations: 11th and Franklin, phone 3883; and Barker Ave. and Franklin, phone 2603.
1942-43 — Iselman’s Dairy Stores — confectioners at 1016–1018 Franklin, Cecilia M. Smith, manager; and 1900 Franklin, Edgar Dipert, manager.
1947 — No longer listed. 1016 became Buchanan’s Coast to Coast Cleaners, 1018 became Arnie’s Griddle, and 1900 Franklin became a restaurant.
Bottle Type: Quart milk with cream separator.
Embossing: Iselman / Dairy / LAPORTE, IND.
Glass Maker: LG (above the heel near the left side), Liberty Glass Co.
Other Marks: 34 (on base), THIS SIDE UP (above dent on back), CREAM SEPARATOR BOTTLING INC. (below dent), PAT 7-8-30 (on back above heel).
Notes: There is a known pint with the cream separator. Need photo.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
Bottle Type: Quart milk
Embossing: ISELMAN DAIRY / LAPORTE, IND.
Glass Maker: A.B.C.2 (on base), Atlantic Bottle Co.
Other Marks: 27 (on base in middle).
Notes:
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
(front heel), Lamb Glass Co.
