Last week I mentioned a special anniversary party held at the Hormel’s home in Bel Air, California.  I also found mention of a special birthday party held for George.

A headline in the Dec. 4, 1940, Los Angeles Times read:

“George A. Hormel Turns 80 Today in Robust Health: Friends of Minnesota Days to Join Packer in Quiet Celebration at His Home in Bel-Air”

The article’s author wrote,

“George A. Hormel, millionaire meat packer, will celebrate his birthday today-in robust health which qualifies him to carry out his threat to ‘beat down the ears of anyone who mentions that it is his 80th.

“Joining in a small family dinner at the Hormel home, 630 Nimes Road, Bel-Air, will be R.E. Shepard, Jerome, Ida, and Hormel’s son, Jay C. Hormel, Austin, Minn.  Young Hormel said he is actually representing Judge S. D. Catherwood, who was the third of a trio of old friends in Austin who planned the celebration for today.

“Shepard and Catherwood, whose birthdays are the day after and the day before Hormel’s, had planned several months to meet at the Bel-Air home.  Judge Catherwood was snowed in, young Hormel said, but Shepard arrived several days in advance.”

The article reported that Jay was given strict instructions not to reveal which birthday his father was celebrating.

Jay said:

“I’ll get my ears beat down, and I think he’s well able to do it, too.  Anyway, he thought he should have shot an 80 when we played golf yesterday, but he didn’t.  Maybe that’ll give a hint.”

I am not sure why George would have worried about people knowing his age as, based on the descriptive word ‘robust’, he seemed to be in great condition.

In case you missed it in last week’s column, the site where the Hormel’s Bel-Air home once stood, is now occupied by a home currently listed for $85,000,000.  The current home was built in 2007 and is quite the showcase.  Check it out just for fun. www.lebelvederebelair.com

History Happy Hour — For the Love of Old Books

5:30 p.m. Social; 6 p.m. Presentation, Monday, Feb. 13

Presented by Jay Nelson, Antique Bookseller and John Haymond, Director of the Mower County Historical Society. Learn the history of bookmaking, how to find and care for rare books and how valuable they may be. Feel free to bring one from your own collection for the presenters to evaluate. Free for members of the HHH, Friends of the Library, and the Mower County Historical Society. $5 for non-members.

Foodie Throwdown

6 to 9 p.m, Saturday, Feb. 18

Join us as we celebrate George and Lillian Hormel’s 125th wedding anniversary with the Foodie Throwdown. Six area teams of chefs will compete with main dish and dessert items. You will vote for your favorite. Live music and auction.

Tickets are $35 and are available at the HHH or online at www.hormelhistorichomeorg/events.