Photo Gallery
Notes
Shawano Canning Company
400 Block of East Green Bay Street
Shawano, Wisconsin<strong
Some of us may remember working for the Shawano Canning Company? If you do, you might remember coming home covered in corn. Here’s a little history of this business that was based in Shawano and was located where Walgreen’s is today, on the East 400 block of Green Bay Street.
SHAWANO CANNING COMPANY
A cannery was talked about for some time at Shawano and a news item early in 1915 said that the Shawano Canning Company had been incorporated for $25,000.00 with A. C. Weber, president; A. T. Osborn, vice president; Albert Trathen, secretary and treasurer; and King Weeman and Adolph Peterson, directors. George Grehb, who had 15 years of canning factory experience back of him was engaged as superintendent and manager, a position he held 12 years, leaving in 1928.
The plant was originally built as a one-line plant and intended for green and wax beans only, but two years later equipment was added for cream style corn. There were 48 stockholders when the company organized in 1915 but over the years one after another sold his stock until at one time only A. C. Weber and King Weeman remained sole owners of the company. Later, however, sons and daughters of both became stockholders.
The plant was enlarged and additional lines added as needed. In 1924 additions to the factory were made giving space for a total of four lines, and a new brick warehouse was built. In 1925, according to a news item, the capital was again increased from $50,000.00 to $100,000.00. The plant was now handling beans, corn and beets, but in 1931 beets were discontinued. The capacity of the Shawano plant as of 1946 was given as three lines, packing stringless green and wax beans and cream style white corn, specializing in No. 10 tins. In 1921 the number of directors comprising the board was changed from five to three, the officers being A. C. Weber, president; King Weeman, vice president; and Albert Trathen, secretary. When George Greb left in 1928, King Weeman became manager, and still is. Albert Trathen resigned in the spring of 1931 to accept appointment to an important position for the State of Wisconsin on the Annuity and Investment Board. The present board consists of seven directors, all of whom are officers.
The same group comprising Shawano Canning Company in 1926 decided to build a factory for corn at Clintonville and organized a separate corporation of which George F. Greb was president; Albert Trathen, secretary; and King Weeman, treasurer. In 1939 Shawano Canning Company absorbed the Clintonville Canning Company by means of an exchange of stock, since which time both plants have been operated as one corporation. The present corporate structure of Shawano Canning Company is $400,000.00. The labels now used by the company are ‘“‘Rose Marie,” “Hyway,” “Clintonville,” ‘North Beach,” and “Shawano Lake.”’
King Weeman was elected a director and vice president of Wisconsin Canners Association in November, 1933 and again in 1934, and president in 1935. He became a director for three years in National Canners Association beginning in 1936. King Weeman, Jr., was elected a member of the board of Wisconsin Canners Association in November, 1941 and vice president in 1942. He died at his home in Shawano November 11, 1943, at the age of 43, after a short illness.
The company had been successful, well known, and reliable over the years. Early in 1947 announcement was made that Shawano Canning Company had absorbed the Antigo Canning Company.
In its heyday, the plant employed two shifts of 70 people each (seasonally), and 10-12 year-round employees. The plant closed due to economic conditions. As the market changed, small canning companies like Shawano’s couldn’t compete.
Shawano Canning Company was located on the 400 block of East Green Bay Street where Walgreens is located today. The plant was demolished in the early 1970’s.