Village of Morrison
Business & Manufacturers
Whiteside County Illinois


Libby McNeil was started March 4, 1907, W.P. Page, Supt. and employs 45 men and 7 girls. The farmers bring milk in 10 gallon cans. After it is weighed it is thrown into a large storage tank and the systematic process begins. copper kettles, the adding of sugar, the vacuum pan, where steam eliminates water and impurities, the filling of the cans, placing in coolers, and then in barrels of 600 pounds for shipment to bakers and confectioners. After the cans are emptied, they are washed by steam and sterilized. Nothing is left undone to insure perfect cleanliness. The whole building from top to bottom would make a Dutch housekeeper dance for joy. In one room is an array of small bottles on shelves of milk subjected to analysis. As we were informed, these milk plants are a direct benefit to farmers by affording a home market for cash and by increasing the value of the land. It rents for more per acre, and rises in valuation. The can-making department at the Libby, MeNeill & Libby plant made a very respectable reputation for itself one day by turning out 22,037 cans in four hours. The average run is around the 5,000 per hour mark, but on this particular occasion it was stretched a trifle. This department is in charge of Mr. Bernheisel, lately of Rockford. Not far off is the Refrigerator factory. It was started for the sole manufacture of refrigerators, but to furnish employment at dull seasons of the year, school furniture was added as a sort of by-product. For instance, from May to September, furniture, from September to May, refrigerators. In winter 135 hands are employed. Fitfteen years in operation. The chief woods used are elm, ash, and gum. A late innovation in the interior of the refrigerator is the insertion of glass and enamel instead of zinc. More ornamental, but increases the price. A perfect fire system with a pressure through the pipes on every floor from their own 51,000 gallon tank. W. H. Coler, nine years in the works, showed the writer much courtesy. (History of Whiteside County by Davis 1908)



S.H. McCrea

Company


Lumber, Coal, Cement





Old Business Card from Revere House,

Proprietors B.C. Bailey & Son

Contributed by Richard Couch

(The "Son" is probably Edward who also worked in the
old Nachusa House around 1871)





Summit



Stove


Foundry




Line

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