PHOTO OF THE DAY: MONDAY’S HISTORICAL REVIEW
We know the familiar building (pictured here) on the north side of Railway Street between Main and Juniper in downtown Freeman as part of AMPI.
But there’s a remarkable “rest of the story.”
In his 1958 history book, longtime Freeman Courier Publisher J.J. Mendel wrote that Farmers Coop Creamery Association was incorporated on May 7, 1930. It operated in the building that today is home to Flawless Nail and Hair Salon. A new production plant was built at the corner of Railway and Main in 1935. It became known as the “Freeman Creamery.”
In the decades that followed, numerous expansions, renovations and upgrades – including producing powdered milk in 1960 – created the plant that continues to operate there today. It joined Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) in 1969.
The new business Gross decided to establish 95 years ago was a hatchery, in which fertilized eggs are placed in incubators where they are kept warm and automatically turned gently at regular intervals. Fertilized eggs hatch around the 21-day mark and the baby chicks that emerge from those eggs, are sold to farmers.
In 1954, the Freeman Courier published a special section as part of Freeman’s Diamond (75th) Anniversary and included brief stories about some of Freeman’s businesses, including Gross Hatcheries, including the accompanying photo. Here are some excerpts:
“Jake T. Gross, veteran hatchery man of Freeman and his employees are always willing to help poultry raisers with their poultry problems.
“At the age of 14, Jake had to discontinue his schooling and took his first job with the John Gross Nursery in Freeman.”
He went on to work for both the Freeman Courier and the Freeman Telephone Exchange for several years.
“In 1915, at age 25, he began buying grain, cream and poultry, the Courier noted. “In 1929 Gross began his hatchery business here in Freeman. He ventured out and acquired hatcheries in Menno, Marion, Yankton, Armour and Wagner. Through careful management and frugal living, the Gross Hatcheries weathered the depression.”
The Courier reported the six hatcheries were hatching 600,000 chicks a year.
Gross built his business in a sprawling building on the north side of Railway Street between Main and Juniper in downtown Freeman.
And, as they say, “now you know the rest of the story.”
We hope you enjoy learning a bit more about the fascinating history of our community.
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