George A. Hormel and Lillian Belle Gleason were married on Feb. 24, 1892, just three months following the formation of the Geo. A. Hormel & Co. meat packing business.

This week they would be celebrating their 124th anniversary, so I thought it appropriate to share some statements about their relationship.

Theirs seemed to be a partnership in the home as well as in the business. A longtime family friend wrote the following of Lillian. “Apparently realizing, even as a girl, that upon her marriage she had a difficult and dynamic personality to deal with in Geo. A. Hormel, she used her talents, which were many, for the primary purpose of holding him on an even keel; at the times when he was the most nervous, upset, distraught and explosive, her attitude and demeanor would be calm, soothing and smooth.”

In an anonymously written manuscript Lillian was described as follows:

“Mrs. Hormel was completely selfless in developing her conception of her job, which was to make a home for Geo. A. Hormel. She saw herself as sort of a governor to keep Mr. Hormel from beating himself to pieces in the turmoil of his business.”

After their wedding the Register described the event.  “After the wedding Mr. and Mrs. Hormel were escorted by their friends to their home on St. Paul Street, where they will go to housekeeping….their popularity is so well established that it is useless to say anything upon the subject.  Life must look very bright for those young people launching out upon the sea of life with such fair skies and smooth seas.”

At the 1946 annual stockholders meeting Jay said of his parents:

“Mr. and Mrs. Hormel had that typically American character which goes beyond doing no evil.  They asked few favors of other people but were always sensitive to the needs of others.  The principles of ‘sow and ye shall reap’ and ‘give and you shall receive’ were firmly implanted in their minds.  Surely their lives were marked by doing well by giving.  Theirs was the character and the religion which is America and which makes America great.”

Anniversaries bring to mind moments in time that are worth remembering.  No matter how much time has passed the people and events of our lives leave lasting memories.  The Hormels- their marriage and their community contribution- will be celebrated in Austin forever.

5th Annual Foodie Throwdown

Doors open at 6 p.m. Samples at 7 p.m. Saturday

Tickets are $30 and are limited to 175 people.

Featuring live music by Reminisce and food samples from 5 area Food Enthusiasts. Wine tasting by Three Oak Wines offered for $5. Auction to support the HHH will also take place.

 

SpamKids Fest

10 a.m. to 2 p.m Saturday, March 12, free

Celebrating the local love of the Spam brand through science, history, and arts. Join us for crafts, tastings, stories, tours and music. Appropriate for children 2-12