Monday, August 17, 2020

Minnesota's Oldest Companies

 

Minnesota has over 30 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; 3 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

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

10 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank 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."

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  2. My family's business, started in 1902, will be 120 years old in 2022.
    Hemmingsen'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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Federal Premium Ammunition is celebrating it's 100th year now in Anoka,Mn.

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    2. I will add Hemmingsen's Transfer to my data base - thank you for the information!
      Since 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)

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Thank 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?

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  4. Winkley Orthotics & Prosthetics 1888, 5th generation family-owned

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you! I will add Winkley to my data base

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the list! FYI - The Window and Door company in Bayport is spelled Andersen.

    ReplyDelete