The Alfred Shakers, a religious community, operated a commercial dairy.
In addition to Brothers and hired hands, Sisters helped operate the farm. Here the Sisters at Alfred are shown tending the dairy.
The cart to the far left was used to transport milk from the Cow Barn, the building with the cupola. The cans visible in the wheelbarrow and wagon were used for shipping milk via rail to Boston. Brother Stephen Gowen is driving the wagon.
The rail line helped make the Shaker milk business successful.
