Local History Index: Business Index
Mammoth Spring Canning Co. :
Kewpie
Compiled and Edited by Michael R. Reilly
Last Revised 05/15/2005
In 1920 the Kraemer family came to Sussex and built the Mammoth Spring Canning Company. John Kraemer, one of the leaders of the Kraemer family, helped found the Sussex Fire Department in 1922. This was such a successful endeavor of community cooperation that Kraemer led a group of 16 men to petition the joining of Sussex and Templeton into one incorporated Village, separating from the Town of Lisbon. This was officially recognized in September 1924 and shortly Sussex had its first Village Board with Frank Grogan as the first Village President. John Kraemer remained in the forefront and also behind the scenes as in 1939 he helped form the Sussex Lions Club that has had a tremendous influence on the development of the Village and its park system. Kraemer is considered the co-founder of the Lions Club and founder of the Sussex Park System.
Sussex has become something of a world famous place because the character "Kewpie" was adopted as a logo for the products for the canning factory in 1924, and remained so until the mid 1960s. Worldwide Kewpie collectors have sought out Sussex to visit and to further their collections as they seek the Canning Company's logo items from the 1924-1965 era. (Source: History of Sussex By Fred Keller, local historian)
 |
|
 |
 |
Early MAMMOTH SPRING CANNING CO. RETRACTABLE CLOTH MEASURING TAPE IN MINT CONDITION! THIS COLORFUL TAPE HAS A KEWPIE TYPE CUTTIE ON ONE SIDE, ON THE OTHER SIDE IT SAYS, "DARN GOOD CANNED FOODS," SUSSEX, WIS. IT HAS A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PAT.#s, and MJ KENNEDY CO. MINNEAPOLIS PRINTED ON RIM. THE CLOTH TAPE HAS INCHES ON ONE SIDE AND DRINK MIX RECIPES ON THE OTHER. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Above - Kewpie Sliced Beets l LB. 1 oz tin can. Packed by Mammoth Springs Canning Co., Sussex, Wisconsin is on the paper label. Can measures 4 1/4 inches tall by 3 inches diameter. The bottom of the can has embossed 41 53 6541. On the back is a recipe for Sweet and Sour Beets. The other side has a small Teamster Union seal.
In the years around 1910, the Waukesha Canning co. contracted with farmers in the Lisbon and Sussex area to grow peas. Viner sheds were built on Silver Spring Drive near the creek. The peas were taken to sheds by teams and wagons. The peas were wined, shelled, packed in boxes, and hauled to the Soo Line at Templeton by mule teams. Source: Recollections from the Past: Sussex, Wisconsin, Presented by Farmers & Merchants Bank, August 4, 1972