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Stratford centennial
(1891-1991)
Businesses of today, pp. 222-242
Page 231
farmers living about Stratford must go to Marshfield, Mara- thon City and Colby, the nearest feed mill stations, to have their seeds ground. Many of our farmers have an aversion to go to these distant places and long fora station in Stratford that will satisfy their wants. The Hastings Industrial Comp's. business is to erect and install feed mills on a basis of cooperation, forming a company and selling stocks for the establishment of a feed mill. Their object in getting the farmers in as parties to their company is similar to the creamery companies now operating throughout the state. The farmers as part owners of the feed mill would naturally turn over their seed to their mill and this action would assure the Farmers Co-op had its beginnings. The first organizational meeting of Stratford Farmers Co-op Produce Com- pany was held August 12, 1926. The original Stratford Co-op Produce Com- pany building was purchased from Her- man Langer in October of 1926. Jake Dix was hired as manager until Novem- ber 1926, when Joe Heim was hired as manager. Warehouse employees were Philip Custer and Alex Wagner. Frank Pagel was the firstpresident of the Board of Directors. In 1936, a small warehouse addition and office space was added. Alice Asch- enbrenner was hired as bookkeeper. She was employed about a year. Ruth Bandle succeeded her as bookkeeper. The John Deere building was purchased in 1939. At one time, this building was a bowling alley. The Tin Barn was purchased from Oconomowoc Canning Co. in 1943. This building was used for storage space. At one time, Ed Davies kept horses there. In 1946, the Mahoney Building was purchased. This building was torn down The Mill. in 1957. A semi-trailer was bought in 1946. This was used to haul corn which In 1955, H. in those days had to be unloaded by hand succeeded him in barrels, and wheeled into the ware- July 31, 19 house. John Lickteig was the semi- be the new man: driver, named manager In 1947, the Service Station and 1957 - A ne Bulk Gas Business was purchased from truck and tank Marco Co-op at Marathon City. Walter later, a bulk fec Dhein was hired as Bulk Gas truck Chicago Northv driver. At this time the Board of Direc- feed mill) was r tors consisted of: H.R. Keller-President, Station was pur Theo. W. Wagner-Vice President, Phil Brothers. Hein Sr., Al Jones and Lawrence Leick- directors. operators that their plant would have the cooperation of the farmers stock holders and these farmers too would induce their neighbors and friends to bring their seed to this their mill. Cooperation today is the watchword of modern business and none need cooperation more than the farmers. Without it industry would fail and if farmers would look at their business from this modem standpoint and act accordingly, their suc- cess would be greater and more beneficial." The previous article is the first mention of a co-operative for a feed mill. It is not known if a feed mill materialized at that time but we do know that six years later the Stratford tratford Co-op building. R. Keller retired from the Board of Directors and Theo W. Wagner as President. 56, Joe Heim retired as manager and Wm. Kothbauer was hired to ager. He managed until December 31, 1957. Don Pernsteiner was ron April 1, 1957. *w mill and office was constructed on the present site and a new fuel were purchased. Some old buildings were removed. A few years A truck was added and the request for purchasing land from the vestern Railroad was made. By 1962, the north warehouse (former eplaced because the structure had split apart. The present Service chased from Roger Schuette and the old station was sold to Brandt
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