The Winona Daily News from Winona, Minnesota • 59

19 TWt WINONA DAILY NIWS Saturday, Navembvr 19, 1TSS '4 II If III. MUM IM II mm' i il. -wpiiii iiihiik llj J. III uui 1 Foun Orp) er anea ooy Of Conrad Fur us mess "1 purchatod the defunct fur store for himself; got himself lined up with fa poors throughout tho oreo, ond married tho former Elisabeth Baior, Rochester, who wat ot the time attending tho Winona Normal School. coon, rabbit, Persian lamb, fo-kiang lamb.

Alaskan sealskin and mouton lamb. In 1950. a chain of events beta that saw the fur business redded to almost absolute zero. The of fur garments has been continued, but has 4 begun to arproach its prevj'as scale and volume. Religious Goods Store Dec.

12. 1950. Karl F. Conrad opened a small religious goods Oava t-f li i tr Conrad's firt fur manufacturing store was located on Center street, in the building now occupied by the Winona Paint Depot and the Baker Shoe store. He remained in that spot for 29 years and one month graduallV the manufacture on a small tcslo Pickle Plant Makes More Than Pickles Name almost any delicacy In tht relish line, and you'll find that a Winona company makes it.

For more than 30 years, Pepin Pickling 602 E. Front has been rr anufacturing cucumber pickles, relishes, condiments and sauerkraut. This firm, founded in February 1904 at Pepin, by E. S. La France, came to Winona about 1917.

The location in Winona has aided the company's growth due to the cabbage and cucumber production in the surrounding area, according to company officials. The plant uses about 25.000 bushels of cucumbers per year. Salting stations are operated at' a number of places in Minnesota and Wisconsin counties. Main sources of the cucumbers are Jackson and Trempealeau counties in Wisconsin and Winona and Wabasha counties in Minnesota. Most of the cabbage used for sauerkraut comes from Wabasha County.

Different Styles The cucumbers are processed into a variety of pickles that are included under the general classifications of dill, sweet, sour and fresh packed or quickies. Home style pickles, a new type developed a few years ago, are popular. Pickles and other products are sold under the brand names of building a huge fur buhines. 2 1. v.

ST -Tin r- tc hat 25,000 tquaro foot of floor tpaco while tho adjacent building at tho right compritot 13,000 tquaro foot. Tho latter wii formerly occupied by tho Badger Machine Co. (Air Photo, Fond du Lac, Wit. from Winona Flying Service piano) A SUCCESSFUL SWITCH from military to civilian production hat boon made by tha Noco Ordnanco 510 E. Front St.

Tho firm, established horo in 1951, eccupits tho two buildings at tho center of tho picture. Tho largo building, built by Noco in 1951, A quirk of fate in 1S82. which sent an orphaned immigrant boy to a home in Illinois, led to the founding of one of the oldest fur concern in the Northwest in 1897 and ultimately to the establishment in Winona of one of Minnesota's largest wholesale Catholic religious goods supply houses. Had not a small boy been tent to the home of an Illinois farmer who was determined to provide the youngster with an education, in all likelihood the Conrad Fur Corporation and later the Conrad Religious Goods store, would not have been established in Winona. Max A.

Conrad who ultimately founded a fur business that employed 150 persons and sold quality fur garments in seven Minnesota Wisconsin locations, was born Max A. Koerstein, Sept. 29, 1872. His place of birth was Brom-berg. an east Prussian province of Germany (now absorbed somewhere in Poland).

Mothor Died When Max Koerstein was 3, his mother died and when he was eight, his father left Germany and came to Chicago, leaving Max and hn two older brothers behind. When Max was 9. his father sent for him and his brothers, the three youngsters arriving in Chicago in the fall of 1881. During that next winter, Max's father died quite suddenly, leaving three small immigrant boys homeless on the streets of Chicago. Some form of then-existing welfare agency found a home for Max with the Adam Conrad family of Naperville, 111., a Chicago suburb, who raised the lad as Max A.

Conrad. He attended grade and high school at Naperville and later studied at Northwestern Business College, where a sharp business acumen in the youth's make-up was given its chance to flourish. (One of Conrad's classmates at Northwestern was Teter Krochler, who later founded a world-famous furniture manufacturing business). Started at Bookkeeper Following his graduation, Conrad went to work as a bookkeeper for a Chicago cigar manufacturer, but didn't like it. ii rom She Switches Ordnance eco Civilian emands etal Trim for of religious vestments.

The fur business was sti33 being maintained next door at 108 W. 3rd. On Oct. 1, 1951, Conrad announe ed that he was discontinuing th fur garment manufacturing bui-nes completely and going into tho full time manufacture of Catholie vestments for the clergy. At that time, the remnarstt ef the fur buine were moved the second floor (t the building at 108 W.

3rd. Seeral months liter, Conrad determined to open a store for retail fur oales only and April 15. 1952, he opened a store at 76 W. 3rd with the religious goods and vestments outlet remaining at 101 W. 3rd.

Soon after, the retail fur stora re-entered the fur garment manufacturing field and has remained in that business on a small seal since. Officers of Firm The officers of the fur garmnt manufacturing corporation are: Mr. Elizabeth Conrad, wife ef Max A. Conrad president; Karl F. Conrad, vice president and treasurer, and Mrs.

Karr F. (Gertrude) Conrad, secretary. Manager cf the store it Louis Bander, E. Sanborn and charge of sales and the cffice is Mrs. Elizabeth Conrad Jenkins.

Karl F. Conrad is the sole owner and proprietor of the religiou gorvds and vestments firm. Manufacturing of clergy vestments has gradually declined int a somewhat smaller business than it was five years ago. as Conrad has now gone almost exclu ively into the field of wholesale supplier for church goods and equipment. Coats were manufactured of furs Coarad purchased from trappers in Winona and other surrounding counties.

Made of wild muskrat, coon, beaver and mink, Conrad's coats brought top prices on the commercial market. Building Purchased In 1917. he purchased the building at 108 W. 3rd where Conrad enterprises in one form or another have remained since. In 1927, the firm was incorporated, with its firt officers including: Conrad, president; Frank R.

Wilkins, who ultimately worked for Conrad for 50 years. 1st vice president: Victress C. Miller, 2nd vice president; Charles H. Kersten. Rochester, Conrad's brother.

3rd vice president, and Karl F. Conrad, a son, aecretary and treasurer. At the same time the firm incorporated, it built a huge fur storage vault at 108 W. 3rd St. The best years in the fur business were those from 1935 to 1950, said Karl F.

Conrad, who was in business with his father from 1923 on. Max Conrad Sr. never lived to ee his modestly begun firm grow into the giant it ultimately became. He died in 1936. charging his son to "carry on the name and the business and take care of the employes." Peak Fur Days During its top days, the firm: Employed about 150 persons.

Set up retail outlets in Winona, Duluth, Rochester and M.an-kato in Minnesota and Superior, Eau Claire and La Crose in Wisconsin. Manufactured about 1.200 new fur coats each year. Repaired and cleaned about Next time you're jov riding, at 580 E. Front site of the take a close look at your car frm Badger Machine Co. plant.

La France, Riveredge and Pepin, but thousands of cases are labeled g. iiicuruoraiois oi iuc new tuin- for special brands of nationally op- ucu jou ie Futtci- pany were all from La Crosse: c. era ted stores. ing around home, look at your Gelatt j. E.

Richmond, M. L. Pickle making and sauerkraut 'kitchen and laundry appli- Crouse and C. A. Loveland.

The manufacture require quite differ- ances. first board of directors consisted metal trim for tovoral largo manufacturers. The volume of this work grew steadily through 1955, and the Neco payroll correspondingly expanded to between 150 and 180 workers, according to factory manager A. IL Brietzke. Source of Contracts During the past year.

Brietzke said the company has produced special metal trim parts for the following: Buick Motor Division, General Motors (transmission lever ent processes and production lines. Chances are that one of Wi- of these four men and Ralph Cor- i.T nances are mat One OI Wl- oi uiese iour men ana nupn tur- cucumDers ior picKies, receivea rJiC reaCnrn zona's newest industries help- ey, also of La Crosse Gelatt was plant in railroad the first president, and is ctill head oltbBTtihJ0' 0f the company. Of the original at the Winona nirfcl tank car in company, must be salted and er, dryer, stove or refrigera- incorporators and board of directors, only Gelatt and Crouse are alive today. When Neco planned to locate here, the Winona City Council then cured for 60 days in huge tor. Since about a year ago, vats.

They are then sorted, graded Neco Ordnance Corp. has been and processed during which vine- turning out the chrome, nick- About 90 per cent of the pickles al tnm lor products of several are packed in glass containers of of the nation's leading appli-about six sizes, ranging from 8 to ance manufacturers. General Electric (panels leased two parcels of city-owned baking oven, special air-filtering equipment. These new facilities were designed for the plant built in 1952. A La Crosse engineer from Northern Engraving designed the special equipment.

Two new- plating lines also ere ad Jed. The paint room was finished in the spring of 1955. and the rest completed during the summer and fall. 14 Stops In Procttt About 14 separate 6teps are needed to complete one piece of metal trim for example a panel for an automatic washing machine. These steps include several stamping operations to give the piece of metal proper contours, electroplating on the chrome, nickel or other metal, spray painting, baking, sanding off rough edges, painting on special gold or colored numbers or instructions for the inspection for quality, and packaging.

Today, Neco's officers and board of directors are interlocking with Northern Engraving Manufacturing the parent company. President of both concerns is C. D. Gelatt; Emil Niemier is vice president: M. L.

Crouse, treasurer, and T. P. Dallzcl, secretary. land to the ordnance company for for washers, dryers) SI a year with option to renew. Motorola, (radio panels).

This land adiarpnt tn the nlant Ifotnoint Cn I stnv nanrls). He moved to another bookkeep- Ing position this time for Charles 7,000 fur coats annually. 128 ounces, and the- remainder in barrels. An Industry The pickling Industry has changed little through the years and can trace its history back to the begin Neco Ordnance, as its name was later purchased so the com- Geo. D.

Roper Corp. (panels indicates, Started out in Wi- pany could build a S120.000 factory for gas ranges), nona as a manufacturer of the site. The new building, con- Norge Division. Borg Warner armaments specifically 20-miI- taimn2 25.000 feet of floor space, Corp. (washer and dryer panel limeter steel cartridge cases was comPleted Ia, in 1931- trim- nmeier sieei caririae cases.

From ig51 t0 ig54 Nec0 produc. The corporation also has produc- bince late 1WD4, However, Ptt more than thre million rfnllar. trim for General Motors of Can- Had a combined storage Glanz. Chicago furrier, who main nings 01 civilization, ijie manu- If you fmoke. the chances ara good that your cigarettes are partly made in Winona.

All U.S. cigarette manufacturers and many foreign ones use paper made from flax fiber, and Winona's Archer-Daniels Midland Co. is one of tha three largest processors cf Hat fiber for cigarette paper jn tha world. racture of sauerkraut starts by wfien the company was put worth of shell casings for the arm-shredding the cabbage and then al- on a stand-by basis for production ed forces. The number of work-lowing it to ferment in a brine ef military material if u-orb ha ers varied from 30 to more than tained supply and product outlets throughout the Northwest.

In 1897, Glanz sent Conrad west to Winona where he was to attempt to get a slipping Glanz store back on its feet. Within a year's time, Conrad determined that ho liked tho city ond wanted to live hero; space at all Conrad stores, including the Winona vault, to accommodate between 10 and 11 thousand coats each summer. Made fur garments having a price range of from $175 to $7,500, with the bulk in the $300 to $500 class. Made coats of muokraL mink, 1 200, depending upon the volume of Fermentation takes about five or becn on metaI Ulm for six weeks in the huge 4,500 eallon nost oI manufactured products. tanks in a room adjacent to the ada, Studebaker Packard Corp.

(U.S. and Canada), Nash-Kelvina-tor Division of American Motors. Evinrude Motors, Thor and Westinghouse Corp. In addition, some electroplating work is done for Winona area manufacturers. Parts are plated in chrome, nickel, copper and gold.

Early in 1955, Neco Ordnance began an extensive expansion pro gram to meet its needs for producing non-military products. Added to plant facilities were an eisht-booth spray paint room, a 110-foot such as appliances and automobile parts. Four Incorporators The ordnance corporation, which is a subsidiary of Northern Engraving Manufacturing La demand from the Navy. With the exception of key personnel, all personnel was recruited in Winona. After Noco wii put on tand-by basis in October 1954 and its Navy contract work tomporarily tutpondod but tho plant ordered to bo ready to to go into production on thort notice, contract! were secured for poacotimo production of canning department at Pepin Pickle Co.

Each tank is 12 feet in diameter and 8 feet deep. After being put into cans by a produetfon Jine Of women employes, the kraut passes through a sieamneai process lor three mm- Crosse, began operations in utes before the caps are sealed Winona in 1951. Its plant is located cf Huller Catered lamon on me cans and lowered into the cookers. After cooking and cooling the cans are ready for labeling. Shipments of kraut to distant states are mainly in bulk containers like 15-gallon kegs and 45-gal-Jon barrels.

Sauerkraut canned for consumption in the Midwest is packed in three sizes of cans. The plant can pack 18,000 small cans of sauerkraut in an eight-hour day. From Many Sources Raw materials for Pepin's opera First Farmer tton V.0 A Winona firm that for 34 years tions come from a wide range of fonpht ith chihhnm cnth.r sources: Cans are purchased from company executives in an effort the American Can glassware to get a new product on the mar-from the Hazel Atlas Glass ket, quit the joust in 1917, switched cardboard cartons from Wisconsin its commercial target and began Rapids and Menasha, vine- rrodurtion of a Wh now While living in Stoolo County, McLaughlin was oloctod mayor of Owatonna, told tho firtt McCormick tolf-wiring binder in tho county and wat influential in starting a ttato orphanage and Pilltbury Military Academy in Owatonna. In 1883. he invented the Diamond Cotton Seed Huller the product which resulted in the name of the Because of continuing heavy opposition from Southern Oil officials, the huller business didn't develop into a major operation, grossing at best about $25,000 annually.

In 1917, Diamond Huller made its big switch. Under the guidance of C. N. McLaughlin and financed by D. B.

and Dr. Edmund, the family broke present company. ground tor its attrition mill corn- McLaughlin went to Memphis to pany. gar from St. Paul.

Milwaukee and grosses well over $200,000 annual-Kansas City, salt from Milwaukee, ly. and sugar from national refineries. The Diamond Huller now Pepin's plant has storage ca- occupying the old National' Youth pacity for 50,000 bushels of cu- Administration building at 3rd and cumbers. Gould streets, did not originate the E. S.

La France, Winona civic manufacture of its principal pro-leader and former mayor, served ducts cotton seed hullers and as president of Pickling Co. commercial feed grinders in from the founding date until his Winona. death at the age of 80 in April Founded by a Scotch-Irishman, 1951. resident of Winona for 34 Diamond Huller has had its pro- produce and sell the huller. The foundry was located in the At Memphis, he ran into a solid stone wall of resistance set up by executives of the Southern Oil Co.

Don't Want to Buy aouuiern jn, noi wisning 10 lose years, he served as mayor from duction line variously headquarter- its very lucrative separating fees. mrwm'm frif i Just Think if lH: i I I SIX-HOUR SERVICE I -S-i- i to develop and print V. 3 1 7 hi 13 By 10 A. M. Prints -J 2 a I i J' Wo hovo al years of know-how 1 In photography.

I) I i I 7 ORDIR PHOTO 1 1 i 1 11111? CHRISTMAS CARDS 4 I I I 'jlllp 7 NOW MADE IN WINONA "ty rt iii iu 13, was a pasi presiaeni ea ai juempnis, uwaionna sionaiy reiused to Duy already of the Association of Commerce, and Winona. prepared meats from the cotton and for six years, from .1935 to It began production of a machine growers. plant now occupied by the Badger Machine Company, 1124 W. 5th St. They switched their commercial target from the southern cotton growers to the custom grain elevator companies and business was booming.

In 1931, the two McLaughlin brothers purchased the New Winona Manufacturing Co. from the Youmans and moved the entire foundry operation into the West 5th street building. Other Products In addition to its attrition mills, replacement parts, grinding burrs (plates) and an occasional cotton seed huller, the firm also makes a horizontal flax break invented in 1898 by C. N. McLaughlin-used to make flax "tow." 'Tow." at one time used for stuffing cheap furniture and as insulation, has been promoted about six grades since 1898.

It's now used in makinz fine C. N. McLaughlin and In later years aided by hit two sons, O. Blaine and Dr. Edmund M.

battled Southern Oil from 1893 until 1917, when tho family gave up tho fight for tho most part and wont into wholesale manufacture attrition food grinding mills. McLaughlin Sr. came to Winona 1941. was president of the National aimed at increasing southern cot-Pickle Packers.Association, a field ton growers profits in 1883, open-in which he w-as known from cd shop at Owatonna during most coast to coast. of the next decade and wound up Leo C.

La France succeeded his Winona in 1892, where it has father as president and secretary since remained, of the firm. Other offices are C. D. I- began when a young man Tearse, vice president, and E. F.

trom a small Ohio town Cun-Hfim, treasurer. ningham N. McLaughlin went to An average of 25 persons are WOrk for tne fledgling McCormick 1892 and founded the Winona in employed in Winona in addition tarm Implement working out Manufacturing which he used to manufacture both his improved Diamond Feed Mill and the Dia- 01 Austin, in the early 1870s. Traveling as a sales agent, McLaughlin picked cp an idea for an improved type of feed grinding mond Cotton Seed Huller, to around 10 to 15 in outlying salting Annual payroll of the company runs around $50,000. Winona Optical Co.

Organized in 1941 Winona His firm bought the Plow Works, which was in the machine and gradually became aware of an increasing problem facing southern cotton growers. Farmers for years had been sending their cotton seeds to the building now occupied by Scbuler linen paper, cigarette papers (be- Chocolates on West 5th street cause of its even-burning qualities) He'd been in production just Southern Oil Memphis, little over a year when the panic for grinding of 1893 came. McLaughlin manag- Winona Optical Co. is a relatively young Winona industry, having been organized in 1941 by Edward Eichendorf, owner. In actuality the grinding process ed to stave off failure for five separated the cotton seed's hull from its meaty yellowish interior.

The company grinds ophthalmic Southern Oil would extract the and choice bond paper for U. S. currency. In 1943, the McLaughlins rented their plant to a wartime industry and moved into the East End building now occupied by the Winona Knitting Mills. They remained there for but seven months, then purchased the National Youth Administration building at 3rd and Gould streets, where they have since remained.

The firm employs between 25 and 40 men. depending on seasonal lenses for dispensing optometrists meaty extract its oil and and handles frames for eye purchase the oil from the cotton more years. Cut finally went bankrupt in 1898. Stilt to Youmant At that time he sold the business to Addison B. and Harry S.

Youmans, who resurrected the firm under the name of the New Winona Manufacturing Co. McLaughlin was given some stock in the corporation and retained as general manager. work, and has a gross volume of D. Blaine McLaughlin, following well over $200,000. his 1906 graduation from the Uni t1- t.

grow er. Southern Oil would also. This wholesale optical manufac- however, charge the grower an turing concern bas remained in one outlandish price for doing the sep- location since its opening at arating. 159i Main St. but has twice McLaughlin figured if he could expanded, and now occupies three invent a hulling machine, relative-rooms.

Only one was occupied jy low in cost, which he could sell in 1941. when the company began to the growers, the farmer could UrmfSSj realize a greater profit by selling Lichendorf has been grinding just the meat to Southern Oil and lenses for more than 30 years, not paying for separating. He employs three persons at Wi- About this time in the middle rona Optical Co. 1870s McLaughlin moved to Owa-Doctors in the Winona and La tonna and became a co-partner in troe area are served by the the McLaushlin-Sheldon Farm company. Implement Manufacturing Co.

versity of Chicago went to work for his father and the Youmans at the New Winona Manufacturing Co. D. B. also conducted a small business on the side, manufacturing the Diamond Cotton Seed Present corporation officers include: Mrs. D.

B. McLaughlin, president; Dr. Edmund M. McLaughlin, vice president; A. C.

Brightman, secretary, and Dr. Blaine Edmund McLaughlin, son of D. B. McLaughlin, treasurer. D.

B. McLaughlin is general manager..