HODGE

HODGE. Walter J. HODGE began HODGE TRANSIT WAREHOUSE COMPANY in 1958 and remained in the business until his retirement in 1978. He was succeeded by Walter M. HODGE. The warehousing and distribution service by 2010 had grown into four phases of business. The company included Hodge Material and Forklift Service; Walter Development, LLC; TM Logistics, and Infosafe Records Management.

Beginning with two employees and 30,000 square feet of space, the company grew to employ from 50 to 55 by 1997 with 400,000 square feet to be leased. The public warehouses stored dry, non-bulk commodities either packaged or pelletized. Sales of material handling equipment, for a variety of manufacturers, were targeted to the eastern one-third of Iowa and bordering counties in Illinois and Wisconsin. Service of equipment was actively provided within fifty miles of Dubuque. (1)

Great expansion was celebrated in 2008. The Hodge Material Handling facility was completed in November, 2007. It featured 21,000-square-feet of shop space and 9,000 square feet of office space. The second expansion was the completion of the 20,000-square-feet Infosafe Safe Records Management facility which would function as a commercial off-site records management facility. (2)

Hodge has proven to a company with willingness to support the area's economic goals. Around 2020 IBI Scientific, a laboratory equipment manufacturer, needed 20,000-square-feet of space. Hodge offered its own building and relocated. Another example found Hodge moving material being stored in one of its buildings to allow Duluth Trading Company space to become a new local employer. (3)

Community participation of the company has included multiple efforts including donating operation space for Toys for Tots and the creation and organization beginning in 2009 of the Run4Troops race. Beginning with about 96 participants in the first year's race, the Run$Troops by 2018 had more than 1,100 entrants to make it a leading community event. (4)

The 1987 through 1993 Dubuque City Directory listed 1111 Purina Dr.

In 2010 the directory listed the address as 7465 Chavenelle Road.

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Source:

1. Families in Business. (magazine). Telegraph Herald, July 30, 2010, p 59

2. Hodge Company Celebrating Two Expansions," Telegraph Herald, June 25, 2008, p. 3

3. Montgomery, Jeff, "Anatomy of the Deal," Telegraph Herald, February 23, 2020, p. 1

4. Leitner, Jim, "Run4Troops to Break Participation Standards," Telegraph Herald, June 19, 2018, p. 15