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Billhead of the Month - Celery

As I have stated in other posts, I love researching all the billheads I buy for myself or for resale. This month's billhead is simple, but I learned something new while researching it - Kalamazoo The Celery City.
It is for The Celery Supply Company of Kalamazoo Michigan. Dated July 25, 1889, with dark blue printed title and tag line; Famous-Blue-Ribbon-Celery.

I found an 1899 Kalamazoo directory that lists several business in the same building as Hiram Kelder - Little Joe Celery Co., West Side Celery Co., Kelder Celery Co. and Celery Supply Co. That is the only mention of this company that I could find.

In 1856, a Scotsman grew the first celery in Kalamazoo Michigan. Soon, Cornelius De Bruyn, a gardner from the Netherlands, would develop a modern type of celery. By the late 19th century, Kalamazoo would be known as the Celery City for the area’s large celery industry. Some enterprising individuals would even produce medicines and condiments from the celery. As factory jobs became more plentiful, the celery industry gradually disappeared. Many celery growers converted their operations to greenhouses for bedded plants and this new industry would flourish.

More information:

http://www.kpl.gov/local-history/business/celery.aspx
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