Crex Meadows, Griggs-Cooper Co. of Saint Paul and the Depression of 1930s

Aunt Pat Schanno Schotl talked about the hard years of the Depression when you were lucky to find work. Neighborhood families shared with those that did not have jobs and food.  Everyone learned  to make do and put their dreams on hold. 

From 1929-1931, Aunt Betty Handler worked for the Crex Carpet Company.  She was listed as a "winder", probably a bobbin winder, and later as an "operator". 

Crex Carpet Company on Front Street, St. Paul MN

The Crex Carpet Company went bankrupt in 1933, but the name "Crex" remained.

During the depression and drought years of the 1930s, further drainage and agricultural attempts failed. By 1940, nearly two thirds of the land in the area was tax delinquent. In 1946, the state purchased 12,000 acres of this tax delinquent land to start the Crex Meadows Wildlife Area 

                                                                                                                                 Crex Grass.

           Crex Meadows Visitor's Center

We have family photos of both female and male employees posed near factory buildings. My mother, Bernice talked about working at the American Can Company  before she was married.  She appears with other female employees at the complex of buildings that we have identified as American Can Company.  The years would have been ca. 1936-1937 as she married in 1938, and did not work immediately after her marriage.  In 1940, according to the Federal Census, Pearl was 19, living at home, and also working at the American Can Company.  She had dropped out of school after her sophomore year.  The family may have needed the money as Grandpa Frank Schotl is not listed as employed in 1940 and may have been ill and no longer able to work.

 

The complex is currently owned by Silgan Container Corporation, a world-wide company founded in 1987.  Silgan acquired the company after their merger with National Can Company. 

 

 Mom also talked about family members being employed at the Griggs-Cooper  Company, but we have not been able to find photos or document it. ..Magdalen Horwath was working as a packer....

Griggs Cooper and Company building circa 1890

In 1913, Griggs, Cooper and Company, later famous for its Home Brand products, completed a large modern factory on the corner of Fairview and University Avenues in St. Paul. This location would have been an easy street car ride taking the Rice Street car and transferring to the University car where the two intersected.

The Griggs, Cooper & Company Sanitary Food Manufacturing Plant at 1821 University Avenue West occupies much of the block bounded by University, Fairview, and Thomas avenues.  It was constructed in 1911-12 with additions in 1921 and 1925. Originally a canning factory and candy and cracker manufacturing facility, the building was reportedly the world’s largest canning factory when built.

The original wing, adjacent to University Avenue, was built to house the Sanitary Food Manufacturing Company Plant. The northeast and northwest wings were built as warehouses that provided space for other functions as well. The three wings of reinforced-concrete construction are similar in appearance and are unified by brick and exposed concrete exterior walls. 

The Sanitary Food Manufacturing Company was a subsidiary of Griggs, Cooper & Company. This facility processed or manufactured several “Home Brand” products in addition to crackers and candy, including coffee, tea, spices, extracts, preserves, and canned fruit and vegetables.

In 1940 Elizabeth Horwath, Apple's sister is living at 582 Prior Ave., very near the American Can Company complex. Apple was married to my uncle Len Schotl.