Close Menu
The Village Reporter
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Current Edition
  • Store Locations
  • Photo Albums
  • Rate Card
  • Classifieds
  • Submit News
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Saturday, August 30
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Login
The Village Reporter
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Current Edition
  • Store Locations
  • Photo Albums
  • Rate Card
  • Classifieds
  • Submit News
The Village Reporter
Local History

Historic Reflection: 1909 – Van Camp Packing Company

By Newspaper StaffApril 23, 2024No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

HISTORIC REFLECTION … The Van Camp Packing Company (later Pet Milk Company) condensory on East High Street in Bryan began operations. In August 1908 the Van Camp Packing Company began construction of a milk condensory where the Cincinnati Northern and Toledo & Indiana railroads intersected on Bryan’s East High Street. On March 25, 1909, the facility began commer-cial operation. A local newspaper reported that the condensory was the largest building in Bryan and “the most modern, best-equipped milk evaporating plant in the United States.” On July 1, 1944, the Van Camp Packing Company was pur-chased by Pet Milk, who modernized and expanded the Bryan condensory. About 1947, a can manufacturing operation was added. By 1963, the plant employed more than 100 people and produced 1.5 million cases of evaporated milk each year. District offices for Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin were also located at the Bryan facility. On September 1, 1978, Pet was sold to IC Industries for more than $455 million. In October 1983, Pet announced milk processing would be discontinued at the plant because of declining sales. Soon afterward the can manufacturing operation was also aban-doned. On May 22, 1985, the Quigley Company began blending materials to form refractory products for the steel industry in the former condensory. The site is now home to Minteq International. These vintage postcards of the Van Camp Packing Company’s Bryan facility are from the Kevin Maynard collection.


 

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
Previous ArticleSpring Lawn, Garden & Planting
Next Article Historic Reflection: 1998 – Hobo Reunion
Newspaper Staff
  • Facebook

Related Posts

Historic Reflection: 1909 – Airship Strobel

August 29, 2025

Historic Reflection: 1908 – Lester School

August 29, 2025

Historic Reflection: 1923 – Metamora East Main Street Fire

August 22, 2025

Historic Reflection: 1901 – Bryan Unpaved Roads

August 22, 2025
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Account
  • Login
Historic County Tributes
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Current Edition
  • Store Locations
  • Photo Albums
  • Rate Card
  • Classifieds
  • Submit News
© 2025 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below.

Lost password?