Community Corner

Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

The latest Hidden Gem is a new twist on an old tradition.

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A Modern Milkman truck.
A Modern Milkman truck. (Chris Dehnel/Patch )

ELLINGTON, CT — The light turned red at a crossroads in the Rockville section of Vernon Wednesday. To the right was an old factory that dates back to the 1800s, symbolic of the Victorian Era, when that section of town was a hub of textile manufacturing. To the left was a classic hillside Victorian home, symbolic of the same trip back in time.

Entering the intersection was a milk truck — yes a milk truck — with a contrasting monicker emblazoned on its side that was also fitting for the scene ...

"The Modern Milkman ..."

Find out what's happening in Ellington-Somersfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The Modern Milkman, based out of Oakridge Farm in Ellington, is this week's Hidden Gem. It's a mix of the old tradition of delivering milk straight from a dairy farm with the newer need for safety and convenience.

And it's not just milk, but an array of dairy products as well.

Find out what's happening in Ellington-Somersfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Here's how it works:

  • Choose an order type (half-share, full-share or family-share), and customize it by choosing specific products.
  • Subscriptions are automatically renewed the days prior the next delivery. Residents who are away from home that week can choose to donate that order to a local family in need or "pause" the subscription.
  • Products arrive at the doorstep each week. All deliveries are made in paper bags and residents are directed to leave a cooler outside as well as the empty used glass milk bottles.
  • Customers can make changes to their orders (or add additional shares to a subscription) up to three days before the next delivery.

For pricing and menu options, check out the Modern Milkman website.

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The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Hartford and Tolland counties. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to tim.jensen@patch.com.
Other columns in this series:

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