Biographical/Historical Note

The Salzer Seed Company was started by a Methodist minister, John Salzer, who sold his produce to support his 10 children. The buildings were located near Salzer's home at Adams and So. 8th streets. In 1876 the company mailed its first seed catalog. Two years later the company had 4,300 square feet of greenhouse space and sales extended through the Midwest. Nearly 200 people were employed by Salzer during peak seasons and the company grossed $1 million in annual sales.

The business was sold in 1945 to Lester Duryea, a Chicago businessman, as a tax write-off. The Salzer Seed Company continued to operate but business was failing. By the summer of 1958 the property and buildings were sold. Lutheran Hospital renovated one of the buildings as apartments for the elderly while the other buildings were razed in 1988.