Austin in Mower County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

George A. Hormel

1860-1946

— Pillars of the City —

George A. Hormel Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2023

1. George A. Hormel Marker

Inscription. In 1891 here in Austin, George Albert Hormel founded the company that would grow to become Hormel Foods Corporation. Born in New York in 1860, George moved to Minnesota and settled on Austin as the place where he would start his business, stating, "I am sure of success at Austin." With an insistence on cleanliness and an attention to detail that was unique at the time in the meat-packing industry, he quickly established an unparalleled reputation for quality that carried the company through some serious challenges in the early years. By the time of his retirement in 1927, the company he had created was an industry leader. The Hormel Foundation is a lasting tribute to his philanthropic work.

Erected 2016 by Austin Pillars of the City Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.

Location. 43° 40.351′ N, 92° 58.478′ W. Marker is in Austin, Minnesota, in Mower County. It is on Main Street North just north of 5th Place Northwest, on the right when traveling north. The marker is mounted on an Austin flood wall pillar, on the west side of Horace Austin Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 Main Street North, Austin MN 55912, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Minnesota.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dr. Richard J. Schindler (here, next to this

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marker); Richard L. Knowlton (a few steps from this marker); Norman E. Hecimovich (a few steps from this marker); Jay C. Hormel (a few steps from this marker); Lyman D. Baird (a few steps from this marker); Jon W. Erichson (a few steps from this marker); Robert J. Enright (a few steps from this marker); Ira J. Holton (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Austin Pillars of the City

Also see . . .
1. George Albert Hormel (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

Hormel was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1860 to German immigrant John George Hormel, a leather tanner, and Susannah "Susan" Hormel (née Decker), and later settled in Austin, Minnesota. An American entrepreneur, he was the founder of Hormel Foods Corporation (then known as George A. Hormel & Co.) in 1891. His ownership stake in the company made him one of the wealthiest Americans during his lifetime.

(Submitted on November 1, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. George A. Hormel. Excerpt:

George Albert Hormel, the

2. Marker detail: George A. Hormel
son of German immigrants, used the knowledge, skills, and values he learned from his family to succeed as an independent meatpacker in an industry dominated by corporate giants. Hormel’s close attention to efficiency, frugality, and innovation, as well as his insistence on quality contributed to the success of his company, enabling it to not only survive in the face of severe competition, but to become one of the largest independent meatpackers in the Midwest.

(Submitted on November 1, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Pillars of the City: George A. Hormel. Excerpt:

George died in 1946 at the age of 85, having seen his life’s work result in a dynamic, industry-leading company that was greater than perhaps anyone other than himself would have ever imagined it could be. The company that bore his name also made a lasting contribution to his adopted hometown. Austin was transformed by the presence of Hormel & Company, an employer that provided a level of stability to the town that other towns lacked, especially during such hard times as the years of the Great Depression.

(Submitted on November 1, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2023

3. George A. Hormel Marker

Looking east. Austin Mill Pond in background.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 296 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 1, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.