Cudahy Wisconsin

In 1892, the Cudahy Brothers Company gave birth to the origins of Cudahy, Wisconsin, now a thriving, industrial city just south of Milwaukee. Patrick Cudahy chose to build his meat packing plant on the 700 acres of land along the shore of Lake Michigan because of its proximity to both water and the railroad. Bolstered by Cudahy's endeavor, the Ponto Hotel and a new train depot were built, attracting more settlers and business until the City of Cudahy was officially incorporated in 1906. Through the medium of historic photographs, Cudahy, Wisconsin: Generations of Pride captures Cudahy's evolution from the late 1800s to the present day. Featuring over 200 historic images from both the Cudahy Historical Society and Public Library as well as photographs from private resident collections, this book tells the stories of the people who settled there: where they worked and worshiped, how they lived, and how they celebrated. Today, Cudahy is in the midst of downtown redevelopment, and community pride continues to grow with each generation.

Cudahy’s commerce began with Patrick Cudahy, an Irish immigrant who started a meatpacking business in 1892. He invited other industrialists to follow him to the farmlands southeast of Milwaukee, and soon nationally known companies like Ladish, Federal Rubber, and George Meyer opened factories in the new city. Smaller businesses like Adamczyk’s Meat Market, Dretzka’s Department Store, Pinter’s Inn, and Sullivan’s Cigar Shop thrived amidst a growing population. With the gradual loss of heavy industry after World War II and the rise of retail box stores, Cudahy has strived to attract commercial and light manufacturing companies like the Gift Shoppe, Milwaukee Cylinder, National Tissue, and Angelic Bakehouse. Cudahy started as—and continues to be—a small town with big opportunities.

As the population of the United States expanded and moved westward, the meat and livestock industry expanded as well. Animals were essential not only for food and other products, but also as a source of power for pulling wagons and farm equipment. The parallel development of railroads was instrumental in the efficient transport for both livestock and meat during America’s rapid growth in the 1800s and early 1900s. An entire industry was developed to raise, market, slaughter, and process meat for the nation’s citizens, and this fascinating book provides extensive histories of early meat companies. Researched with authoritative and meticulous detail by a leading expert in the field of meat and food safety, Meat Then and Now will give you perspective on the industry, rooted in the history of America’s development.