The Hamilton Dairy opened in Big Meadows in 1860. In 1910 Canyon Dam was built, then filled in 1914, creating Lake Almanor. This milkhouse was then moved here out of the meadows above lake level. The Hamilton and Holmes families used the milk to produce butter sold in Chico. The present owner of this property is Jennifer Davis Cesarin, who is the great, great, great granddaughter of Joseph Zumwalt, founder of E Clampus Vitus.