USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 32
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The Albert Lea Gas Light Company was incorporated under the laws of the state of Minnesota, in February, 1909, the capital stock being $200,000. The first officers were: President and general manager, S. K. Swenson, Albert Lea ; vice-president, J. P. Sheehan, Albert Lea; secretary, A. L. Dennstedt, Albert Lea; treasurer, C. L. Swenson, Albert Lea. The board of directors consisted of the above named gentlemen with E. W. Dennstedt, Albert Lea ; A. E. Dennstedt, Wimbledon, N. D., and T. F. Rogers, Albert Lea. The present officers are: President and general manager, S. K. Swenson ; vice-president and sales manager, E. W. Dennstedt ; secretary, A. L. Dennstedt ; treasurer, C. L. Swenson. All these gentlemen live in Albert Lea.
The company commenced business in April, 1909. At that time some eight or nine people were on the pay roll. Owing to the rapid growth of the company as the result of good manage-
SOREN K. SWENSON
HERMAN HIRSCH-ALBERT LEA HIDE & FUR CO .- ABRAHAM HIRSCH
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ment and an excellent product, the company now has seven people in its Albert Lea office, twenty-five people in the factory and eighteen road salesmen. The company is doing business in practically every state in the Union, in Canada and in foreign countries. This year the business has increased something like one hundred per cent over that of last year, and two months ago it was found necessary to open an office in Denver, Colo., a branch having previously been established at Fargo, N. D.
The Albert Lea Hide & Fur Company. This company con- ducts an enterprise that has made Albert Lea known all over the United States, and tans more hides and furs for robes, coats and rugs than any other hide house in the country. The company deals in furs and hides, wool, pelts and tallow, the business being conducted by H. Hirsch, and managed by Abe Hirsch, who is one of Albert Lea's most energetic and popular citizens. The business was started in April, 1903, in a small way on East Clark street, in a building 20x60, where the proprietors thought they would have room for what business there was to be done in Albert Lea. But the push and energy of the company began to show itself, and soon two, and later three, warehouses were rented. Then a building was purchased and a basement put under it, and it appeared that this would provide ample quar- ters. But soon the firm was short of room, and the building was exchanged for the old Skinner mill, which seemed ample for the growth of the business. Some $4,000 was expended in fit- ting up the mill for a hide and wool house, but after a year the firm was again short of room. Consequently an addition sixty feet long, two stories high, was erected, but a year later another addition sixty feet long, was necessary to accommodate the grow- ing business. So now, in addition to the mill building. 60x30 feet, three stories and basement, the company has a storage room of 188 feet, basement and second story, in the new building. Yet the firm is often crowded for room, and additional buildings may be necessary.
When the Messrs. Hirsch started in business in Albert Lea it looked to them that the business would amount to from about $40,000 to $60,000 annually, this being the estimate they put on the hide and fur possibilities in this locality. But at the present time a business of from $600,000 to $750,000 is done yearly. The main business consists of wool, of which the com- pany handles from 500,000 to 700,000 pounds a season, this large amount of business coming from Minnesota, Iowa, the Dakotas and some from Wisconsin and Nebraska. The fur business amounts to from about $250,000 to $300,000 a season, and there is not a state in the Union from which shipments are not received. some coming even from Alaska. The hide business amounts to
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from forty to fifty carloads a year, received from Minnesota. Iowa. the Dakotas and other states.
The success of the business is largely due to the work and business intelligence of Abe Hirsch, the manager. Abe Hirsch is a believer in advertising, and when the business started he commenced advertising on a small scale. The senior Hirsch doubted whether this would pay, as this was a small town, and it seemed doubtful if people would ship their goods here. But Abe Hirsch had faith, and after a trial with an advertising expense of from $500 to $700, the shipments began to come in. and at the present time the advertising expense is some $8.000 annually, there being on the firm's list some 125,000 to 150.000 names to which circulars are sent out three times a year.
The firm does its banking with the First National Bank of Albert Lea, and is that institution's largest customer. Five trav- eling men are on the road all the while.
In speaking of the firm's business, Abe Hirsch says: "We have a very good retail trade from the merchants and farmers in this vicinity, but we consider our advertising our best invest- ment. We have from 25,000 to 30,000 shippers on our list, and these shippers are kept thoroughly posted on the market through- out the year. Our railroad facilities are pretty fair here, but the transportation rates are somewhat against us, and we have to fight the railroad companies to a great extent. We hope in time to get the same rates east as Minneapolis. We have taken it up with the Interstate Commerce Commission at Washington and Chicago, but this entails much labor and expense, and is difficult in a small town, where it must be done single-handed. In the large cities the great interests combine and work together, thus sharing expenses and producing results impossible in a small town."
The Northwestern Tanning Company was started in Albert Lea, October 1, 1907, by I. J. Dahl and P. Wallum, the latter of whom has now retired from the business. The company started business in a building on East Clark street formerly occupied by the Albert Lea Hide & Fur Company. Later the concern moved its plant to a building opposite the creamery on Bridge street. The company is doing a good business and receives a large number of hides and furs for tanning purposes.
The Albert Lea Packing Company is one of Albert Lea's important industries, and its products are high in favor through- out the large territory in which they have been marketed. The hogs in the dairy districts of southern Minnesota are acknowl- edged to be among the best in the world, and this company han- dles from 20,000 to 25.000 yearly, producing toothsome hams, shoulders, bacons. sausage and other pork products. From
HENRY SOTH
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
3,000 to 4,000 veals and about 2,000 beeves are also handled annually. As high as sixty hands are employed at certain sea- sons of the year, and the business is growing so rapidly that a new building will probably be put up in the spring. The business was started on East Main street, between Broadway and William, many years ago, by Charles and Axel Brundin. In 1908 the Brundin Packing Company was incorporated with the following officers : President, Axel Brundin; vice president, Charles Soth; secretary, Lawrence Paulson; treasurer, Charles Paulson. In 1910 this company was succeeded by the Albert Lea Packing Company. The Albert Lea Packing Company was incorporated in 1910, with the following officers and directors : President, Henry Soth; vice president, William Wohlhuter; sec- retary, Lawrence Paulson; treasurer, Charles Paulson; super- intendent, C. L. Brooks; all these, with Fred Behrnes, being the directors. The authorized capital stock is $500,000 and the paid- in capital, $50,000.
The Albert Lea Corset Company was conceived late in 1902, and was incorporated January 1, 1903, the officers being: Theo- dore Taraldson, president; Herbert E. Skinner, vice president ; M. Blacklin, secretary and treasurer. Business was started in January, 1903, at 129 Broadway, Albert Lea. In 1908 the com- pany moved from there to its present location, 113-117 South Newton street. Here it has 9,000 feet of floor space and about sixty employes. Plans are now being made for the erection of a modern factory building. The present officers are: Martin Blacklin, president; F. C. Berkvam, vice president; E. Black- lin, secretary and treasurer. The company does a large and constantly increasing business in corsets and waists, the "Al- bertA" make being a favorite with the ladies everywhere in the large territory in which it has been introduced.
The Luce Corset Company is one of Albert Lea's newer insti- tutions, but succeeds the Case Corset Company, which was organ- ized here in 1885. The Luce company manufactures the "Lucile" make of corsets and waists, and since its organization, June 3, 1911, has enjoyed a large business. The location of the factory is at 116 West Clark street, in the rooms formerly occupied by the Case company. The principal ones interested in the company are Bert Skinner, C. L. Luce, Dr. W. L. Palmer, C. E. Paulson and Henry Soth. The active manager of the plant is Bessie E. Dame, who has done excellent work and demonstrated her fitness for the position.
The Wedge Nursery was founded by Clarence Wedge in the year 1890, two miles southeast of Albert Lea, on what is known as Echo Farm, being the first commercial nursery established in Freeborn county. The nursery has been engaged in the
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propagation of a general line of hardy stock for out-of-door planting suited to the needs of the adjacent country and to the sections north and west. The nursery was carried on for ten years at Echo Farm until it had grown to such proportions as made it seem desirable to move to a soil that was better adapted to nursery purposes, the soil at Echo Farm being a stiff clay with occasional stones, in which it was difficult to use manual labor and nursery machinery to the best advantage.
Such soil was found at the present location, two miles north- west of the city, where the plant was moved in 1900. In 1906 a partnership was formed between Clarence Wedge. the original owner. and Robert C. Wedge, his second son, which has been maintained to the present time. The land now owned and operated by the firm comprises about 350 acres particularly adapted to nursery and orchard purposes. On this land they are growing large quantities of apple, plum, grape and small fruits and have perhaps the largest stock of evergreens in the state of Minnesota: From the start the nursery has made a specialty of evergreens for windbreak purposes, and by far the larger share of the evergreen windbreaks that adorn the homes of the farmers of this section were grown and sent out by this nursery. The orchard of thirty acres on Echo Farm which is owned by the senior partner is the largest in the country, and was the first from which apples were shipped by the car lot. This orchard, much of which is just beginning to bear, is composed almost entirely of the Wealthy, and the crop harvested has been over one thousand bushels for several seasons. The firm has had the honor of being the first to introduce the following valuable varieties of fruits and ornamentals to this section: Hibernal apple, Patten's Greening apple, Lowland raspberry. Anisim, Wyant plum, Compass cherry, Perfection currant, Colorado Blue spruce, Douglas fir, Concolor fir, and the Hybrid Rugosa roses.
The Lake Shore Greenhouses are beautifully situated on the north shore of Fountain lake and are owned and conducted by P. Clausen and son, G. A. Clausen. The business was started in a small way by P. Clausen in 1885. He did not at the time have any idea of growing and selling flowers for profit. but only for his own pastime and pleasure. The demand, however, came for flowers, so gradually he worked into the business. In 1897 his son. G. A. Clausen, became interested and joined in partnership with his father, and the business has increased so that now they have a range of about 50,000 square feet of glass in order to supply the demand. The larger part of the greenhouses is devoted to growing cut flowers, roses, carnations, violets and chrysanthemums and the other leading varieties. About one- half of the output is sold in Freeborn county and the surround-
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PETER CLAUSEN
G. A. CLAUSEN
LAKE SHORE GREENHOUSES
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ing cities and towns. The balance is disposed of at wholesale. The plant is heated by steam, two boilers being used, one sixty and one one hundred horsepower, annually consuming about 600 tons of coal, heat being necessary eight months of the year .. The firm also has its own waterworks system, supplying water for their dwelling houses as well as for the greenhouses. An average of ten people are employed throughout the season.
The Albert Lea Brick & Tile Company. This company was incorporated in January, 1905, the incorporators being M. F. Rushfeldt, W. A. Morin, J. H. Griffin, Henry C. Carlson, and A. F. Rushfeldt. One of the first acts of the new company was the purchase of the business and good will of the Albert Lea Brick Yard, which was owned by M. F. Rushfeldt. The Albert Lea Brick Yard was located on South Broadway, where it had been in active operation for twenty-seven years. The new com- pany did not consider the South Broadway real estate holdings sufficiently extensive to warrant the erection of such an immense plant as was contemplated, so a twenty-acre tract was purchased in the Sunny Side addition adjoining the city on the west. where the plant is now located. The South Broadway plant was only operated by the new company during the season of 1905, in order that they might fill the orders which had been accepted by Mr. Rushfeldt when he was operating alone and for the fur- ther purpose of making the brick required to erect the new plant. At the new plant the company has a deposit of clear, pure blue clay of the best quality for brick and tile purposes, that is over forty feet in depth, which is considered one of the very finest clay deposits known to exist anywhere. This clay bank was discovered by Mr. Rushfeldt, who had spent most of his spare time for several years, together with a great deal of money, in prospecting for a suitable deposit advantageously situated for the erection of a new plant, which had been a creature of his imagination for a number of years previous to the formation of the company. After the building of the plant there were ten kilns in constant use, each of which had a capacity of 70.000 brick or 27,000 four-inch tile every eleven days, it requiring that length of time to complete the process of manufacture. To oper- ate this vast plant three engines were required, one of 224 horse- power, one of thirty horsepower and one of eighteen horsepower. and employment was given to about fifty persons. For fuel. coal was used, of which 7,500 tons were consumed annually. The plant is not now in operation.
The Albert Lea Flour Mills Company is the name under which the United Flour Mills Company, of Minneapolis, capital- ized at $500,000, operates in Albert Lea. About twenty men are employed here, and the flour and feed manufactured is of a
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high grade. The Albert Lea mill was begun in 1883 by C. B. Thompson, the city and vicinity having subscribed a bonus of $5.031, over $1,000 of which, however, was never paid. Mr. Thompson proved financially unequal to the undertaking, and it dragged along until the spring of 1884, when the Albert Lea Mill Company, composed of R. M. Todd, S. C. Jansen, D. R. P. Hibbs and Salena Todd, bought Thompson out, completed the mill and started it running. The mill changed hands a number of times, and was several times burned. At the time of the sale of the mill to the present owners the mill was owned by the Albert Lea Milling Company, of which C. C. Dwight and G. W. Hopkins were the principal officers.
G. A. Olson Manufacturing Company. In 1892 Gustave A. Olson, a farmer in Riceland township, conceived the idea that the farm implements then in use might be greatly simplified. Accordingly he constructed a hay sling for his own use. In 1898 he began to make a few for his neighbors on an improved plan, and in 1899 he made some patterns which resulted a year later, December 18, 1900, in his obtaining a patent on the "Com- mon Sense" hay sling. In 1901 he came to Albert Lea and started on a small scale in a tin shop. In 1904 the company was formed, the men interested being G. A. Olson, Samuel Hanson and Alfred Christopherson. The company remains the same to the present day, with the exception that in 1907 S. Otis Simonson took the place of A. Christopherson. March 8, 1904, a patent was obtained on a "Perfection" shock compressor, and December 12, 1905, the "Advance" hay carrier was patented. In 1907 the company rented the G. A. Hauge building on Washington street, and in 1908 purchased the building of the Thompson Seed Company on South Broadway. A litter carrier with many new appliances is secured under two patents, and is the latest development in this line of farm conveniences. The patents under which the company operates are all the result of Mr. Olson's fertile brain, and are a distinct addition to the conveniences of farm life and labor. The business of the firm is large and is growing from year to year.
The American Culvert Company is one of the progressive industries of Albert Lea, and although young. gives promise of assuming large proportions. It was organized in 1910. with an authorized capital stock of $50,000 and a paid-in capital stock of $10,000. The first board of directors consisted of T. V. Knat- volt (president), C. L. Swenson (treasurer), E. Pankhurst (sec- retary), A. C. Bisbee and B. A. Bisbee. The directors and officers are still the same, with the exception that S. Nelson has taken the place of B. A. Bisbee. The company rented a building for a while. and then erected their present factory on Robert street.
G. A. OLSON
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The building is of cement construction, 30x80 feet. The main product of the company is corrugated culverts, from nine inches to seven feet in diameter, made with an interlocking joint, which gives the culverts a uniform size throughout. This patent is called the Pankhurst-Bisbee Interlocking Joint, and its merits have won it a wide sale, the customers being mostly township and county officials. In addition to the culverts, the company makes cupolas, tanks and other conveniences and ornaments.
The C. D. Edwards Factory has contributed not a little to Albert Lea's reputation as a manufacturing center. Mr. Ed- wards, who is a skilled machinist, started making his own inven- tions in Albert Lea in 1882, and has since continued in the same line of business, manufacturing stump pullers, ditching machines. road graders, iron shears and other articles. The plant is located at 220 West William street, and the output is satisfactory.
The Enterprise Iron Foundry does general foundry work and employs a number of men. The foundry was started in 1894 by J. Wellington Veness, and has since enjoyed a prosperous career under the same management.
The Star Foundry, after a prosperous career of four years in Albert Lea, is moving to Waterloo, Iowa. In 1907 A. A. Koch, an inventor, came here and opened a foundry at 309-315 West Main street. Among Mr. Koch's inventions are a power hammer, a universal woodworking machine, a concrete mixer and other machines. The foundry has been doing a large business in engi- neering, foundry work, machine work, boiler making, structural iron and steel work, sewer castings and blacksmith tools.
The Albert Lea Construction Co., contractors, builders and manufacturers in cement blocks, brick sidewalks, sewer drain tile, marble floor slabs and all products manufactured in cement, is an important industry of the city of Albert Lea. The company was incorporated in 1909 with a capital stock of $50,000. The officers are: President, C. M. Tapager; vice president, N. J. Paulsen ; treasurer, Anton Larsen ; secretary, S. P. Swendsen. The directors are these gentlemen, with J. P. Larsen. Anton Larsen is the man- ager and S. P. Swendsen the assistant manager. This company succeeds the North Albert Lea Concrete Works, started by Anton Larsen, who in 1907 bought out H. A. Paine, who had previously done some concrete and cement work in the city.
D. M. Dominick has been in the cement business in Albert Lea for many years, being one of the pioneers in this line in this vi- cinity. He has a large plant on Charles street, employs some twenty men and does a large business in all kinds of cement con- tracting, constructing and manufacturing.
The Johnson Brothers Manufacturing Co. was started April 1, 1909, as the successor of the Sharp Manufacturing Co. Ernest P.
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Johnson looks after the machine department and' Milford V. at- tends to the office work. The company does custom work, repair work, steel structural work, windmill manufacturing, steel tank manufacturing, special machinery work and well drilling. Al- though the company is new, it does a large business and is soon to increase its quarters by using the space formerly occupied by the Star foundry. J. G. Sharp located in Albert Lea in 1883, as a well borer, and a good many of the old wells in Freeborn county were sunk by him. In 1892 he commenced manufacturing well machinery, and a few years later, windmills. In 1902 a stock com- pany was organized and the business was expanded. Besides dig- ging wells and manufacturing well machinery, two kinds of wind- mills were made, and now the Monarch and Clipper can be seen on a great many farms. Mr. Sharp perfected the Monarch well drill.
The Western Grocer Co., of Marshalltown, Ia., wholesale gro- cers and packers of vegetable products, maintains a· large estab- lishment in Albert Lea, in charge of Frank E. Brewer. The com- pany began operations in Albert Lea in 1900, succeeding the Ran- som Brothers Co., wholesale grocers. Charles R. Ransom started in business as a restaurant man. His son, Robert G., succeeded l:im, and later Robert G. and Charles engaged in the retail grocery business. Later the firm of Ransom Brothers Co. was started, and the wholesale business under the management of Robert G. Ransom was in a flourishing condition when sold to the Western Grocer Co. in 1900.
The France Dredging & Construction Co., of Mansfield, has had several big contracts in this vicinity, and for that purpose main- tains a branch in Albert Lea. The company was organized about twenty years ago, in Mansfield, O., and is engaged in constructing dredge ditches. About twenty men are employed by the Albert Lea branch.
The C. R. Brandon Candy Co. started business April 1, 1911, and does a large business in jobbing fine confectionery.
The Albert Lea Bottling Works are located on the corner of Washington and College streets, and bottles all kinds of soft drinks. The concern was purchased from Edward Olson, by Adam Wiegand, and is now owned by the Adam Wiegand estate, being managed by Robert Wiegand.
The Neilson Wagon Works some two years ago succeeded the Matson Wagon Works, which some three years ago succeeded the Hauge Wagon Works. In the early days the concern was com- posed of G. A. Hauge and C. Christopherson. Mr. Hauge pur- chased the establishment in 1875. At one time the concern turned out as many as 150 wagons a year. The present company manu- factures some wagons, but devotes most of its time to repairing.
Joseph Pffeffer started his wagon shop in 1869 and added the
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repair department and blacksmith shop in 1878. The firm is still in business here.
George Drommerhausen & Son carry on a successful wagon- making and repair shop. The business was started in 1866 at the corner of Newton and William streets and in 1868 moved to its present location on Clark street.
O. M. Peterson Nursery. This nursery, which is located north of the city, is a growing institution, and its products have already won wide favor.
BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS.
Albert Lea Building & Loan Association. This association, which has taken so important part in the industrial progress of Freeborn county, was organized February 12, 1887, and started business three days later. Its incorporators were A. W. White, W. P. Sergeant, R. B. Skinner, W. Buel, M. H. Trusdell, T. V. Knatvold, H. G. Day, William McAdam and D. R. P. Hibbs. The association has enjoyed a steady growth and unusual prosperity. February 1, 1902, the association had $48,384.46 invested in mort- gage loans ; its common stock amounted to $32,280.51. and its pre- paid stock to $22,450.00. August 1, 1911, it had $354,323.32 in- vested in mortgage loans ; its common stock amounted to $189,- 852.07, and its prepaid stock to $177,350.00. The financial state- ment of the association July 31, 1911, was as follows: Assets- Mortgage loans, $354,328.32; stock loans, $19,060.36 ; real estate, $1,178.81 ; miscellaneous account, $99.87; cash on hand, $1,813.23; total, $376,480.59. Liabilities-Common stock, $189,852.07 ; pre- paid stock, $177,350.00; dividends to prepaid stock (unpaid), $6,549.31 ; undivided profits, $2,729.21. Total, $376,480.59. The presidents of the association have been : M. H. Trusdell, H. G. Day, W. C. Merrill and Victor Gillrup. The present offcers are : Pres- ident, Victor Gillrup ; vice president, H. G. Day ; secretary. C. A. Briggs; treasurer, A. C. Erickson ; attorney, T. V. Knatvold; di- rectors, L. A. Brown, H. H. Dunn, H. J. Harm and C. M. Tapager, In 1910 the association was incorporated at $2,000,000.
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