Freeburg Companies

Freeburg Companies. . , In the early 1900s, brothers, J.W. (Bill) and Archie Freeburg were business partners in the W.H. LaPlant Company that sold feed, seed, coal and other farm related items. In 1933 Bill and Archie left the LaPlant Company and opened their own competing business: Freeburg Bros., Inc. The retail store was located on Jackson Street; but the storage sheds for coal, wood and other commodities were located here. The railroad spur ran along the east side of the property providing easy access to the coal storage sheds. Donald, son of Bill, started working for the company after graduation from Anoka High School in 1935. In 1942 Bill bought Archie's share of the business and Donald became a co-owner. Donald served in World War II, but returned to the business after the war., In the 1950s, the company expanded into selling ready mixed concrete and fuel oil, which was starting to become popular as a home heat source. In 1952 the retail store moved to this site, and the company became known as Freeburg Fuel Company. Freeburg's continued to sell animal feed and bulk seed, which built them a well respected reputation within the local farming community., In the late 1960s, more emphasis was placed on selling lawn and garden products, and the company's name was changed to Freeburg Lawn and Garden. With the arrival of natural gas in the Anoka area in the late 1970s, the demand for fuel oil dropped; and Freeburg's eliminated that part of the business. In the spring of 1982, Donald and his wife Merlyne disbanded the business and retired., Photos and historical information courtesy of the Anoka County Historical Society.