Minnesota has at least 40 companies that have been in business for 100 years or more. Interesting industry concentrations reflect the nature of the state: there are 4 lumber yards and 2 window/door companies; 4 agricultural co-ops and 3 large agricultural products/food companies. Though over half of the companies are generational family firms, Minnesota has a larger percentage of old public companies - 30% - than seen in other states. (Nationally, only 14% of Century Club Companies are public.) Here is the list - as always, if you know of a company that has been in continuous, independent operation for over 100 years and should be added or have any corrections to the information provided, please leave a comment.
1865: Cargill, Minnetonka, 6th generation, agricultural products
1866: General Mills, Golden Valley, public, food products
1870: Tennant, Minneapolis, public, manufacture cleaning equipment
1877: Patterson Companies, St. Paul, public, wholesale medical equipment
1883: Alexander Lumber, Owatonna, private, lumber yard/home center
1886: Fred W. Radde & Sons, New Germany, 5th generation, auctioneers
1886: Shaw/Stewart Lumber, Minneapolis, private, architectural lumber & millwork
1888: Winkley Orthotics & Prosthetics, Golden Valley, 5th generation, prosthetics & orthotics
1891: Hormel, Austin, public, deli meats/food processing
1896: Schmitt Music, Brooklyn Center, 3d & 4th generations, retail musical instruments
1897: Molin Concrete Products, Lino Lakes, 5th generation
1899: Glamos Wire Products, Hugo, private, wire products for lawn & garden
1900: Specialty Mfg Co, St. Paul, 4th generation, manufacturing
1901: Tenvoorde Ford, St. Cloud, 3rd & 4th generations, retail autos
1902: 3M, St. Paul, public, conglomerate (business & consumer products)
1902: Hemmingsen's Transfer, Alden, 4th generation
1902: Target, Minneapolis, public, retail stores
1903: Andersen Corp., Bayport, family (generation?) and ESOP, windows & doors manufacturing
1905: C.H. Robinson, Eden Prairie, public, freight transportation
1905: Farmers Elevator, Pelican Rapids, agricultural co-op
1905: Meadowland Farmers Coop, Lamberton, agricultural co-op
1905: Red Wing Shoes, Red Wing, 3rd generation, footwear manufacture
1905: Wheaton-Dumont Cooperative Elevator, Wheaton, agricultural co-op
1912: Marvin Windows & Doors, Warroad, 4th generation, windows & doors manufacturing
1913: Simonson Lumber, St. Cloud, 3rd generation, lumber & building products
1914: Toro, Bloomington, public, manufacture lawn care equipment
1915: Donaldson, Bloomington, public, manufacture air filters
1915: Kruse Lumber, Rochester, 2nd generation, lumber & building products
1916: Bernick's, St. Cloud, 4th & 5th generations, beverage distributor
1916: Hubert White, Minneapolis, 3rd generation, retail apparel
1917: Cooper's Foods, Chaska, 3rd generation, retail groceries
1919: Jefferson Lines, Minneapolis, 3rd generation, bus transportation
1920: Bemidji Woolen Mills, Bemidji, 4th generation, apparel manufacture and retail sales
1920: Ostbye, Minneapolis, 4th generation, jewelry manufacture
1921: Coborn's, St. Cloud, 4th generaton/ESOP, retail groceries
1921: Land O'Lakes, Arden Hills, co-op, food products
1922: St. Paul Corner Drug, St. Paul, 5th generation, retail pharmacy
1924: H2I Group, Minneapolis, employee-owned, construction
1924: Mars Supply, New Brighton, 5th generation, industrial equipment supplier
1924: Sipe's Car Care Center, Robbinsdale, 3rd generation, garage/auto service
Waterous Company, 1886.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your suggestion. However, to be considered a Century Club Company one must be an independent company. In the history of Waterous Company I see that it has twice been sold to become a subsidiary of another organization. I am happy to see you are proud of the company history and hope it continues living a long "life."
DeleteMy family's business, started in 1902, will be 120 years old in 2022.
ReplyDeleteHemmingsen's Transfer, Inc.
Transportation - Freight and Alden Public School Bus Transportation
126 Euclid Street
Alden, Minnesota 56009
Alden, Minnesota 56009
(507) 874-3160
Fourth generation, current co-owners are cousins Scott and David Hemmingsen.
Submitted by Rick Hemmingsen (Scott's brother), Independence, Missouri.
Federal Premium Ammunition is celebrating it's 100th year now in Anoka,Mn.
DeleteI will add Hemmingsen's Transfer to my data base - thank you for the information!
DeleteSince Federal Premium Ammunition is a subsidiary of another company, it does not qualify as a Century Club Company (which must be in continuous, independent operation)
Molin Concrete Products 1897
ReplyDeleteThank you for the info on Molin Concrete - I will add them to my data base. Is it correct that you are a 5th generation family firm?
DeleteWinkley Orthotics & Prosthetics 1888, 5th generation family-owned
ReplyDeleteThank you! I will add Winkley to my data base
ReplyDeleteThanks for the list! FYI - The Window and Door company in Bayport is spelled Andersen.
ReplyDeleteHi, my name is Dan McKeown, President of Specialty Mfg Co. We were founded in St.Paul in 1900 by my wife's Great Grandfather, William Boss. Can you add us to your list?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your message, and YES, I will add you to the Century Club! Congratualtions to Specialty Mfg Co on your 125th anniversary!
ReplyDelete