I’m still mining interesting facts from the 1935 “Progressive Austin” booklet published by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. This week, “Austin’s Industries.”

“Although the Packing Plant of the Geo. A. Hormel& Co. is the major industry of Austin, there are many smaller industries which in the aggregate go to make up a well balanced industrial center. Among the many smaller industries we have only space to mention a few of the leading ones.

The Austin Poultry and Egg Co., Inc., is one of Austin’s outstanding industries. Not only is it an asset to the city in the matter of employment, but furnishes ready market to the farmers for miles around. It is located on Water Street, in the former Flour Mill building on the Cedar River, which is especially adapted for a business of this kind. Their “Austin Brand” Milk Fed Poultry and Fancy Northern Eggs command top notch price on the Easter markets. The gross sales for 1933 were $347,960.00; cars shipped, 221; pay-roll, 1933, $42,390.10; maximum number of employees, 129, minimum, 32; number of checks issued for poultry and eggs to producers who made direct delivery at the plant, 46,910.

The Campion Baking Co., one of the growing industries of Austin employs seventeen people with an approximate pay-roll of $25,000.00. They are enjoying a good trade in a radius of 50 miles with their excellent products. Their Prize Winner, Campion Sliced, Graham, Cracked Wheat, Rolls, Doughnuts, etc., have made their products famous in a large trade area.”

Next week, more examples of 1935’s Austin industry including Johnson Laundry Co. and Austin Button Co.

Monday: Board of Directors, 8:30 a.m.; Ladies Floral Club, 1 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church; HBO’s Temple Grandin movie at the Hormel Historic Home, 6 p.m. Cost is $10. Register with Community Education at 460-1704.

Tuesday: Danny Muzik’s Karoke for Camp at Torge’s, 8 p.m. Proceeds benefit the HHH ASD programs.

Friday: HyVee’s ASD Semi-Formal Gala at the Hormel Historic Home, 4 to 8 p.m. Tickets: $20 per person at Hy-Vee or the HHH. Proceeds benefit HHH ASD programs

Coming Soon

Monday, April 18: KSMQ presents Autism Views at the Hormel Historic Home, 6 p.m. Cost is $10. Register with Community Education at 460-1704.

Tuesday, April 19: Social Concerns: Containers for Food and Flowers by the Mower County Horticulture Society, 11 a.m. Please RSVP to 507-433-4243 by Friday, April 15.

Tuesday, April 26: Spring Card Party with lunch and prizes, noon. Reserve a table of bridge or 500 at the HHH office, 507-433-4243; Science and ASD at the Hormel Historic Home, 6 p.m. Cost is $10. Register with Community Education at 460-1704.