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Show cm EST 3322 S. 3rd E. 8LC, UT 84115 BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID OGDEN. UTAH 84401 PERMIT NO. 278 Vol. 4 No. 9 ta Eta ILo'imM i Serving North Ogden, Pleasant View and Plain City Thursday, March 29, 1979 Old canning factory - planning to rri p i i"" Piffle ite? - DOUGLAS HUSS of 3144 North 575 East, North Ogden, manager of the Ogden plant of the American . Can Company in Ogden, is pictured here at the plant entrance with a former employe, Ed Vended, former Ogden postmaster for 25 years. Also shown is the front door of the American Can Company's Ogden plant that will close its doors Saturday, March 31, after producing cans here for 64 years, G. G- - reports manogr Douglas Huss, who has worked there for over 30 years. (Photo by Glen Perrins) by Glen W. Perrins Reporter In about 1919 or 1920, the husky young son of a family from Sweden sat hopefully on the long oaken bench in the front lobby of the American Can Company, 2030 Lincoln Avenue. Seme of the early hour workers joined him as he sat on the long bench, but before the seven oclock whistle blew they all had left for their jobs inside the plant, and the manager came over beside him. If youre looking for work, sonny, he said, were not hiring anyone today. Thank The young man replied, you, any, and rode his bicycle home, but early the next morning he again sat on the bench opposite the managers desk with the workers. Again, the manager said, were not hiring anyone today. And again, the youth thanked him and left, and again the third day, he sat smiling and hopefully on the bench in front of the manager. You must want a job awfully bad, sonny, said the manager to him. I dont just want a job, Ive got to have a job, the boy answered. You see, my father just died and we have to have some money for the bills and for groceries. We just live up the hill and I was hoping that the American Can Company By this time the manager grabbed hold of the youths arm, and said, Come with me, sonny, lets go out in the plant. . . I think we can find a job for you. . . Maybe you can even make a job for yourself repairing cans on what we call the Joker bench, and work your way up from there. So the manager introduced the ambitious youth to the plant foreman .hit morning and he had his new job on that led to new work at the factory for him, and other friends like him at the plant. Thanks to the American Can Company, the lad had a new start in life. Since the firm had opened its shut-dow- n plant in Ogden in 1915 it has given new jobs and new life to many young students who climbed to fame in the institution or elsewhere. At one time there were more than 300 employees at the factory, when canning of fruits and vegetables in Utah was at its peak. In those good old days there were at least 30 d canners in the state and foods could be found on shelves and in kitchens throughout the nation. The Ogden plant turns out three-piec- e cans, composed of separate sidewalls, top and bottom, whereas beverage companies today have intwo-piecreasingly turned to cans, made by producing a heavy base and thinner sidewalls out of a blank of steel or aluminum, and adding a top. Inasmuch as beverage cans have accounted for around 85 per cent of the Ogden plants business in recent years, and now the firms have turned to two piece cans instead of three piece cans, the Ogden plant does not lend itself to conversion to the newer process, officials report. This loss of sales volume at the Ogden plant has had an unfavorable impact on our costs and the economics of the facility, said Mr. Huss. So the Ogden plant will close at the end of the month. About 38 people have been em- a memory. The only commercial canneries to survive in Utah are the large Smith-fiel- d plant of Del Monte foods and the smaller Stevens Canning Co. plant in Roy, and Woods Cross Canning Companys Clearfield plant and warehouse. The Smithfield plant produces its own cans the same trend followed by many of the major Utah-banne- food and beverage packers. Ogden has a new Ogdens LDS replacing an Europe." v Dinner Saturday, March 31 A dinner for about 50 employees and partners Saturday, March 31, will wind up work at the Ogden American Can Company plant, reports Mr. Huss. The production lines then will be turned off, and the plnat will be just cannery at the same location. This new cannery makes it easier for the areas Mormon wards and stakes to process vegetables and fruits which they contribute in the unique Mormon welfare program. When equipment is not required for welfare work, the cannery will be available to groups and families that wish to preserve produced for future use. ' John Leonard was plant manager of the American Can Company in Ogden when the facility opened 64 years ago, said Albert L. Bott of Ogden and employee and executive. He of men now well known around here who started at the American Can Company while working their way through school. long-tim- e reports that there were a lot ployed here, and the company program will provide assistance in their getting jobs with other companies. The plant will be dismantled during the next four or five months, and the machinery will be shipped to various American Canning Company plants in the nation or to Mexico or out-mod- $650,000 Welfare Center, cannery at For example, Dr. William Garner, Ogdens superintendent of schools, is one of the plants graduates. Sherman Madsen, plant manager - from 1941 to 1960, recently visited his old office and said he hated to see the Ogden plant close. Theres been a great change over the years, he pointed out. Its just one of thosc'things that happened all over the counrty. Farmlands have been converted to home sites as the agricultural picture changes. The Ogden can plant quite a monument to this change. P.C. girls enter contest by Kris Ewert The newly reinstated Miss Plain City Pageant brings area beauties out to register for the opportunity ro reign as Miss Plain City. Among the first registerants were Paula Cook, Denise Stagge, and Jolene Searcy. The task will be difficult for any judge to determine who among all these delightful per- sonalities should be crowned. Paula Cook is presently attending Weber State College and is planning to culminate her educational experience as an elementary teacher. Paul has been recognized at Weber High with a W pin, a Weber Service pin, National Honors Society, Whos Who Among American High School Students, Junior Miss, 12 of 12 Honor Roll and Senior Councilwoman. She has participated in Music: Man, Damn Yankees, Wizard of Oz, and is presently the lead in a local production of Jenny Who? Denise Stagge was on the honor roll at Weber High. She has also donated her time to working with the deaf. She has participated with various singing' groups and mixes all these talents well with an enthusiasm for all kinds of sports such as snow and water skiing, tennis, golf and swimming. Denise works as a receptionist at I.R.S. and intends to go to Weber State College this fall to study photography. Jolene Searcy is a red headed bombshell possessing a zest for living like a lark for song. She loves working with wood, playing golf, tennis, solftball and participating in water and snow skiing. Jolene has played for two years on the golf and tennis teams of Weber High and has served two summers as a camp coulselor for 3 year old girls. She has served as Stake 12-1- sports director and is presently serving as Relief Society Young Adults Pres. Special plans made for Daily Princess contest by Kris Ewert Special plans have been prepared for all young girls registering for the Dairy Princess Pageant this year. Girls interested in participating register by calling either Loretta Chugg or Chyrrl The first fifteen Wayment girls to register will be able to participate. Girls must be graduating from high school this year or older s and cannot be married. All must be in by the 10th of April. An informative and delightful tea will be held for all contestants and their mothers on April 11 in the CTeam O Weber building at 6 p.m. Dairy Princess winners from years previous will be there to explain what will be expected of the new Dairy Princess hopefuk, as well as perform for them Uieir winning skits. Last yean Dairy Princess, Holly Welch, returned from the State Dairy Princess finals, (held in St. George) as an attendant As last yean Weber County Dairy Princess, Holly reigned over Plain City Dairy Days and sparkled up the whole 4th of July Parade as she passed by on a float. She was invited, along with all the county royalties from the entire state, to a luncheon in Park City. Holly sparkles as she explains that one of the highlights of her reign was being able to tour elementary schools throughout Weber should (782-790- (731-1707- ). sign-up- JOYLNN SEARCE is going after Plain City title. ' h-- . '' fc i County. Now as attendant to the Daily Princess, Holly will continue to tour elementary schools and. will also pend a few days this summer at Hotel Utah where she and her Princess and the other attendant will record commercials promoting dairy products. Dick Brown will emcee the pageant this year which will be held at Weber High School on the 22th of April. A luuiquet will be held at 7 p.m. just prior to the pageant at 8 p.m A Dairy Wives meeting will be held x April 4th to elect new officers for the coming year. All dairy wives are urged to be in attendance at the Cream O Weber Dairy at 2 p.m Refreshments will be served. |