In the past most families made their own butter at home. The butter churn was a common household item in the 1800s. Butter making was an essential chore that most women did regularly.

Butter making has been a part of many cultures around the world. There were three different types of butter churns. The dash churn, the barrel churn, and the paddle churn.

The cream was left in a pot till it became sour naturally. Then it was scooped from the top and put into the butter churn to make butter.

The dash churn (shown in the picture)had a dasher pole which was put in the lid of the barrel. The repeated movement of pushing the pole down and pulling it up turned the cream into butter eventually.