The Fairmont Creamery -- Moorhead MN
N 46° 52.572 W 096° 46.049
14T E 670117 N 5193826
The old Fairmont Creamery at 1st Ave N and 8th St N has been turned into a modern assisted-living development in Moorhead MN.
Waymark Code: WMJQNR
Location: Minnesota, United States
Date Posted: 12/19/2013
Views: 5
The Fairmont Creamery was a big business 50 years ago. Today it's landmark headquarters building has been turned into upscale senior assisted living for the Fargo ND-Moorhead MN area.
The creamery offices are just across the street from a former Great Northern Railroad railyard, which no doubt helped move a lot of raw and finished product for the creamery.
Some of the folks who live here now may remember the Fairmont Creamery's products on their grocery store shelves.
From the Minnesota State University historical archives, some information on this heritage MN business: (
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Fairmont Foods, Incorporated, Moorhead, Minnesota (S2691)
1924-1982
HISTORICAL SKETCH
Fairmont Foods, Incorporated, originally known as Fairmont Creamery Company, started construction of its creamery in Moorhead, Minnesota in 1923, completing and opening the plant in May 1924. At the time this was the biggest creamery in the area. The creamery in Moorhead was part of the nation-wide network of creameries and buying stations started by Fairmont. The Moorhead plant was involved in poultry processing, butter making, and buying cream and milk. J.H. Deems was the plant superintendent from the opening until 1952. He was succeeded by Paul R. Dew, who was replaced in December 1952 by J.D. Heckart. In 1976 Heckart retired and Larry Groves became the last manager. The plant was closed in October 1980 because Fairmont Foods was divesting itself of its creamery operations in order to concentrate on its convenience stores. Cass-Clay Creamery bought the creamery building but sold it to the Anderson-Jordahl Development Company. On February 1, 1982 that firm began the renovations needed to change the old creamery into a senior citizens housing project. This involved the razing of much of the existing structure. There was a move at this time, partly instigated by Anderson-Jordahl for tax purposes, to have the building placed on the national Register of Historical Properties.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION
This collection contains the correspondence, news articles, financial information, internal records, and miscellaneous papers and items of the Fairmont Foods Creamery. Also included is information about the embezzlement scandal at Richter Grocery of Perham, Minnesota."
The Fairmont Creamery building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The nomination form is here: (
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