Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
KEY CITY SPICE MILLS
KEY CITY SPICE MILLS. Key City Spice Mills was established and operated in 1858 by W. K. Bowdish. He was succeeded by H. A. Dean, and he by R. S. Allison who sold the company to Solomon Smith. In May, 1862, Smith sold his interest to Nathaniel L. ALDEN. (1)
Under Alden the business more than doubled its business. New machinery other improvements enabled him in addition to the compounding of spices, to roast upward of a dozen sacks of coffee per day. (2)
The mills were located at 254-258 Fourth Street, between Main and Iowa. The business employed three workers and had annual sales of $12,000. (3) It was renamed around 1870 to the Key City Coffee and Spice Mills which was managed by N. L. Alden's Sons. Frank F. Alden, the senior member of the firm, died in 1901. (4)
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Source:
1. "Dubuque Before 1800," Telegraph-Herald, October 29, 1933, p. 20
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. "Frank Alden is Dead," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, December 2, 1901, p. 3