|
Return to the centennial
Let’s take another look at the centennial celebration in April 1937…
I know I’ve done several columns on the centennial before, but this one will feature a new find — a special section of the Waterloo Daily Courier newspaper from April 30, 1937. This 20-page segment features the famed portrait of an elderly John Deere with his stern face and intense gaze on the cover. Inside I found numerous articles about the company, photos of the factory as well as employees and executives, as well as ads commemorating the company from local businesses. The first four pages of the insert tell the tale of "The Vision of 1837 that resulted in the great John Deere organization of today." Great artwork and an interesting story set the tone for the rest of the editorial. On page six, the headline "John Deere Tractor Plant Covers 90 Acres of Ground" sits above an aerial shot of the massive facility. The first main story is titled "John Deere Tractor Company History Runs Close Parallel to That of City of Waterloo." The first few paragraphs state: "The history of the John Deere Tractor Company runs a close parallel to the history of Waterloo, where for 45 years, the John Deere Tractor Company and the city of Waterloo have grown and expanded together. Necessity, while not always the mother of invention, has often taken the role of foster mother in promoting a new idea or a broad improvement in an old method. Such may be considered the case in the original founding of the John Deere Tractor Company." It then goes back to the history of John Froelich and his efforts in starting the Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company, which Deere bought out in 1911. The final paragraph says, "From a small beginning in 1892, the John Deere Tractor Company today occupies a 90-acre tract along the Cedar river in which are employed 5,000 skilled workmen."
On page seven, a large photograph of men accompanies a caption that lists them all by name, noting that these are "foremen in the principal production departments." An interview with J.E. Johnson explains that "John Deere Came to Waterloo Because Field Tests Showed ‘Waterloo Boy’ Best Tractor." Johnson was secretary and treasurer of the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company when Deere expressed interest in acquiring the company. He goes on to tell of the Waterloo Boy’s two-cylinder design and how contests were held to plow the fastest. "It happened that a representative of the John Deere organization was present and checking up on all the demonstrations. When he had finished, he found that the Waterloo Boy had the best record." Johnson spearheaded negotiations between the two businesses and the sale officially closed in March 1918. More factory employee photos grace page eight and nine, including those who schedule foundry operation, supervise foundry production, and the Shop Office Group who guides production, such as methods, metallurgical, tool design, time study, time keeping, plant engineering, stenographic and cost survey departments.
Another article gives additional background on the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company’s president George B. Miller. It says he became president at age 26 and sold to Deere for $2,200,000 in 1918. The final paragraph says, "Waterloo owes George B. Miller and his associates a debt of gratitude for what they did to advance the interests of the city. For many years they maintained a substantial payroll. To meet this, in the earlier years, when credit was all but exhausted for the company, George B. Miller drew money from his personal account to keep the concern from shutting down." On page 10, a photograph of 15 men and two women are acknowledged for their contribution to the company with more than 20 years of service. A brief blurb tells how the site of the current executive buildings was once a duck pond and baseball park. Two photos of the more modern tractor facility are found on page 11 of the newspaper insert. A large photograph of the general office staff, including employees from the executive and administrative, sales and service, traffic, purchasing, accounting, specification, repair and mailing departments. Below this on page 12, individual images of the men holding executive positions are shown with their titles.
Page 14 features a short bio of Mr. Louis W. Witry who developed the two-cylinder engine design that "won fame." This Waterloo native started working for the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company at the age of 27 and eventually earned the title of vice president and plant manager as well as chief engineer and designer. Witry was elected vice president and remained as chief engineer of the new company once Deere took over in 1918. You can learn more about the history and founding of the city of Waterloo as a factory center in an article on page 15. The community began in 1845 and was incorporated in 1868. Over the years, it was home to several mills, factories and production plants…the most famous of which builds John Deere tractors. The story continues on page 16 with a description from the 1899 encyclopedia that says 1890’s population was 6,679 and lists what was manufactured in the river-based city. Photos of the men who "control 3,000 boiler horsepower" and "key men in engineering and research" are shown on this page as well. A brief story on page 18 also gives an account of Monte Blue, the man starring as the blacksmith John Deere in a motion picture of his life. Blue is an Indiana farm boy who coincidentally was once a blacksmith’s helper himself. He’d even been in the Ringling Bros. Circus, a medicine show and on a show boat before hitting the big screen in 1912. "The role of John Deere is one of the finest characterizations I have ever attempted. You know, I’m a great student of Lincoln, and have a fine library on him. In the two men I found many comparable qualities," states Blue. "At the John Deere offices he described his delight in undertaking the part, and with animated gestures showed that dramatic moment when John Deere first tried his new plow. Monte’s ‘Giddyap!’ rang loudly enough to startle the entire office force as he gripped imaginary plow handles, and plowed an imaginary furrow down the floor. Yes sir, he really lives that role!" Text © 2002 Brenda Kruse. Photos by Brenda Kruse unless otherwise noted. |
