This landmark on Bemiss Road remains, but more of the letters have fallen off the sign as of 2016. The property was originally known as the Biles Farm, beginning in the 1880s, and was purchased by the Vallotton family in the 1940s to accommodate their growing dairy operation. The original Biles farmhouse was occupied by the dairy foreman for many years. This barn was built in the 1940s, as I understand it, and the dairy was in operation until 1990. Hugh Vallotton, son of dairy founder Joseph Edward Vallotton, managed the farm until his death in 1979 and his nephew, Robert Vallotton, took over and remained at the helm until retiring in 1990.
Biles was my great grandfather that owned the farm. Would have loved to have met him. He had 12-13 children and they all worked on the farm. My grandmother used to talk about how she and her siblings would pick cotton. Thank you for this awesome picture.
I’d like to note, as of 2025, while the building is still “somewhat” there, it appears all the lettering has fallen off, it is very “overgrown” around it, part of the roof is gone, & the overall condition of the building itself is in very bad shape. I know this, because I live just down the road from it.
Hi Dylan,
Would you be able to send me the address of that barn? My great grandfather was the Biles that owned that property. I would love to go out and see it when I’m passing through from Atlanta. Thank you!
I worked at the farm in the pit milker in 1981. Me and one other girl had the privilege of working the pristine system set up. Loved my job, I was attending Lowndes High School my senior year and milking before and after school. I was new to the area and having difficulty adjusting to living in the south on my own. Theresa Heiler
While going through Undergraduate Pilot Training at nearby Moody AFB In 1974, we had to be familiar with landmarks on the ground in order to safely navigate around the Moody area. The big, white Vallotton’s Dairy barn was a prominent and easily identifiable sight from our T-37 jet trainers. It was the southern entry point for the Moody landing pattern. Your photo brought back many good memories.
How can I get a copy of this picture? I’d LOVE to have one!!!!!
Please send me an email: wbrianbrown@gmail.com
What is the crop growing in the foreground of the building” Don’t recognize it. Love the lettering on the old dairy building…
Corn, of some variety. Not exactly sure, though.
That’s neat…when I was growing up in suburbs of Dayton, Ohio in the early 60’s we had milk delivery to our home…I thought we had bread delivery also, but my 83-year old father said he didn’t think so. Could be I am confused from my dad’s father’s stories from when he worked for a bakery in Dayton delivering bread driving a horse-drawn vehicle…wonder if that was done in the South? It wasn’t just bread either: dinner and sweet rolls, cakes, etc. Pretty neat.