THE HUBBARD SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING COMPANY
The Hubbard Manufacturing Company was promoted by Mr. Hubbard – Mr. Robbins and Mr. Brimhall – Mr. Alden. This was Robbinsdale’s first major industry. On March 4, 1889 the citizens met at the Town Hall to see about raising money for a furniture manufacturing company. It took over a month to get the money raised and the papers signed. On May 4th they started laying the foundation. On May 13th the carpenters came, they were all Norwegians. May 18th men who were going to work in the factory came down from Sauk Center to look over the grounds – some looking for houses. By May 30th the second story was going up. June 3rd they started the second building. Eleven moved down from Sauk Center on June 17th – the Malbon brothers were busy unloading the folks goods from the train. June 21st the whistle blew for the first time. July 4th saw the flag raised on top of the cupala. This picture was taken on July 17, 1889. They made chairs, tables of all kinds, cots, step ladders, camp chairs and stools, etc. By June 1890 things weren’t going so well, help had to be laid off, keeping only enough to finish some of the work. By 1891 they closed now and then.
SWEATT MANUFACTURING COMPANY
On May 2, 1891 Hubbard sold out to Sweatt. On June 3rd the name was changed on the buildings. Business was not very good, On February 2, 1892 the factory stopped. It started up again some time later but didn’t have much work. It was struck by lightning on August 5, 1892, burned to the ground. Sweatt’s became the Honeywell Company.
-This material was gathered from the North Hennepin Post and the diaries of Ellen M. Bisbee, (sister of J. P. Shumway and Nathan F. Russ J. P. Shumway). It was compiled and edited by Evelyn and Esther Shumway for a Robbinsdale Historiocal Society slide show in 1980.
