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T.M. Sinclair & Co. Pork Packers Cedar Rapids, IA Small Price Sheet 9/27 1886
T.M. Sinclair & Co. Pork Packers Cedar Rapids, IA Small Price Sheet 9/27 1886
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T.M. Sinclair & Co. Pork Packers Cedar Rapids, IA Small Price Sheet 9/27 1886
The industrial history of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is linked to the city’s close proximity to the river and railway, which made the transportation of goods and supplies more efficient. In November of 1871, Thomas McElderry (T.M.) Sinclair expanded a successful family meatpacking business by opening his own plant in Cedar Rapids, capitalizing on the city’s resources. Within a few years, T. M. Sinclair & Co. became the largest meatpacking plant in Iowa and the fourth largest in the world.
In 1832, T.M.’s father and uncle, John and Thomas Sinclair, organized a meat processing company in Belfast, Ireland. The J. & T. Sinclair Company processed pork for bacon and ham to be sent to England. The family opened a branch in Liverpool, England, where John’s son, T.M., learned the family trade. In 1862, T.M. and his cousin, John, opened an American branch of the company in New York before looking to the west to establish production closer to the source of the product. David Blakely, an employee of Sinclair & Co. moved to Cedar Rapids and suggested the city as a location for their new plant. Railroads, which connected Cedar Rapids to Chicago in 1859, helped secure the venture’s success. Trains shipped Sinclair & Co.’s products east and brought new residents to Cedar Rapids.
By 1870, the population had more than tripled— from 1,830 to 5,940 people. In four years, approximately 400 people worked at Sinclair & Co., making it one of the largest employers in the region. The first Sinclair & Co. plant in Cedar Rapids was in the heart of downtown on First Street Southeast in what had been the Higgins Icehouse.
By 1872, the company purchased 16 acres of land along the Cedar River, just outside of the city limits. To maximize efficiency, the Northwestern Railroad agreed to lay tracks directly to the plant. Sinclair & Co. became the second plant in the country to harvest river ice for ice refrigeration, which prevented meat from spoiling during warm temperatures. Meatpacking became a year-round business thanks in part to the plant’s proximity to the Cedar River. Sinclair & Co. processed an average of 3,000 hogs per day during the winter and 1,000 per day during the summer. Despite the bad smell and waste created by the plant, many praised the benefits of this industry. (source = brucemore.org)
A small folded single sheet on thin colored paper stock. Showing only minor signs of wear and handling consistent with its age. Has a full length horizontal fold crease - possibly from posting. Elsewhere, no issues to note. Mostly very clean throughout. All text are legible. Overall, in good to very good condition. You will receive the exact sheet shown in the photos. Will display well in your collection. Opened, it measures approx. 6" x 6 1/2"
**Shipped securely in poly sleeve, sandwiched in chipboard inside a rigid mailer via USPS Ground Advantage service w/ tracking**
T.M. Sinclair & Co. Pork Packers Cedar Rapids, IA Small Price Sheet 9/27 1886
The industrial history of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is linked to the city’s close proximity to the river and railway, which made the transportation of goods and supplies more efficient. In November of 1871, Thomas McElderry (T.M.) Sinclair expanded a successful family meatpacking business by opening his own plant in Cedar Rapids, capitalizing on the city’s resources. Within a few years, T. M. Sinclair & Co. became the largest meatpacking plant in Iowa and the fourth largest in the world.
In 1832, T.M.’s father and uncle, John and Thomas Sinclair, organized a meat processing company in Belfast, Ireland. The J. & T. Sinclair Company processed pork for bacon and ham to be sent to England. The family opened a branch in Liverpool, England, where John’s son, T.M., learned the family trade. In 1862, T.M. and his cousin, John, opened an American branch of the company in New York before looking to the west to establish production closer to the source of the product. David Blakely, an employee of Sinclair & Co. moved to Cedar Rapids and suggested the city as a location for their new plant. Railroads, which connected Cedar Rapids to Chicago in 1859, helped secure the venture’s success. Trains shipped Sinclair & Co.’s products east and brought new residents to Cedar Rapids.
By 1870, the population had more than tripled— from 1,830 to 5,940 people. In four years, approximately 400 people worked at Sinclair & Co., making it one of the largest employers in the region. The first Sinclair & Co. plant in Cedar Rapids was in the heart of downtown on First Street Southeast in what had been the Higgins Icehouse.
By 1872, the company purchased 16 acres of land along the Cedar River, just outside of the city limits. To maximize efficiency, the Northwestern Railroad agreed to lay tracks directly to the plant. Sinclair & Co. became the second plant in the country to harvest river ice for ice refrigeration, which prevented meat from spoiling during warm temperatures. Meatpacking became a year-round business thanks in part to the plant’s proximity to the Cedar River. Sinclair & Co. processed an average of 3,000 hogs per day during the winter and 1,000 per day during the summer. Despite the bad smell and waste created by the plant, many praised the benefits of this industry. (source = brucemore.org)
A small folded single sheet on thin colored paper stock. Showing only minor signs of wear and handling consistent with its age. Has a full length horizontal fold crease - possibly from posting. Elsewhere, no issues to note. Mostly very clean throughout. All text are legible. Overall, in good to very good condition. You will receive the exact sheet shown in the photos. Will display well in your collection. Opened, it measures approx. 6" x 6 1/2"
**Shipped securely in poly sleeve, sandwiched in chipboard inside a rigid mailer via USPS Ground Advantage service w/ tracking**
