Encyclopedia Dubuque
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ALBEE BAKERY
ALBEE BAKERY. In 1870 Edwin W. ALBEE purchased an interest in the Fairbanks Bakery established by J. E. Fairbanks. The new firm named J. E. Fairbanks & Company at 139-145 (later 231) W. Second Street became one of the Midwest's largest cracker manufacturing companies.
In eight years, Albee bought out his partner. Renamed the Albee Bakery, the company produced" Albee's Crackers." The company's products were shipped as far west as Yankton, South Dakota and from Clinton, Iowa to Stillwater, Minnesota.
On July 21, 1890 Albee sold his company to the American Biscuit Manufacturing Company and remained as manager. Under the terms of the contract, the manager could be removed at any time. (1) In November, 1890 an advertisement for the crackers stated they were made of "Extra fancy St. Louis flour and Dubuque kettle-rendered lard." (2)
In 1891 the equipment of the Albee Bakery was moved to the site of FARLEY AND WOLCOTT as both had been sold to the American Biscuit and Manufacturing Company. This company had been formed in Chicago with a capital of ten million dollars to compete with the New York Cracker Company. This company had been formed by the Diamond Match Company which wanted a way to diversify itself with its excess cash. (3)
In 1892 the company shipped an estimated 3,000 pounds of Midget oyster crackers daily. (4) Nothing went to waste in the cracker manufacturing business. Barrels of cracker crumbs were sold for chicken feed. (5)
According to the 1880 through 1886-1887 Dubuque City Directory, this business was located at 139-145 2nd.
The 1915 Dubuque City Directory gave 310 BANK AND INSURANCE BUILDING as the address.
The 1916-1917 White's Dubuque County Directory listed 614 Bank and Insurance Building as the address for a real estate business.
The 1918 Dubuque City Directory listed 613 Bank and Insurance Building.
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Source:
1. "Big Fish Eat the Little," Dubuque Daily Herald, July 15, 1890, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18900715&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
2. "News in Brief," Dubuque Daily Herald, November 1, 1890, p. 4
3. "A Coming Cracker Factory," Dubuque Daily Herald, February 18, 1891, p. 2. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18910219&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
4. "Municipal Molecules," Dubuque Daily Herald, December 20, 1892, p. 4
5. Ibid.