The Birthplace of Bag Balm

Around 1908, Lyndonville resident John Norris bought the rights to Bag Balm, a salve to soothe cows' udders after milking that was developed in 1899 by a Wells River pharmacist. It became a must-have on dairy farms, and soon farmers started using the product to soften their skin. Bag Balm uses are storied. In the 1930s, Admiral Richard Byrd brought it on his North Pole expedition to help with frostbite and chapping on his cow herd. During World War II, the company sent tins to soldiers and sailors overseas to help with rifle rust and corrosion. Originally made at 930 Broad Street, Bag Balm is still manufactured in Lyndonville and is distributed in distinctive square tins featuring a cow's head and red clover, the Vermont state flower.