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Show United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Western Macaroni Manufacturing Company Factory Salt Lake County, Utah Name of Property County and State in one of the houses on her property until her death in 1940, by which time the majority of her neighbors and renters were a diverse mix of Italian, Greek, Mexican, and Japanese immigrant families. On May 5, 1900, the Mountain Ice Company applied for a permit to build a brick factory on the west half of Lot 8, Block 63. A mechanics lien filed in August 1900 suggests that C. Albert Rosten working for the D. L. Holden Company of Philadelphia was the builder.5 Access to the building was limited by existing houses and duplexes along 500 West and 300 South. In addition, ten brick cottages had been built on Denver Court just west of the property (demolished). The factory had a modest footprint and there was no possibility of a spur to the property even though rail lines ran along both 500 and 600 West. In 1902, the ice company sold the 500 West property to the Salt Lake Ice Company; however, the building appears to have been vacant between 1903 and 1904.6 The Salt Lake Ice Company sold the property to John C. Lynch and Samuel Spitz, who owned the land and the building until 1945.7 In 1905, the Western Macaroni Manufacturing Company began leasing the building. An advertisement in the local newspaper states the company working out at "Rear 242 S. 4th West" was producing twenty-two different shapes of "Red Tiger Brand Sun-Dried Macaroni, Spaghetti, Vermicelli and Egg Noodles" in October 1905.8 The Salt Lake Pasta Company on Richards Street was the only other macaroni producer in the city at the time (demolished). The Western Macaroni Manufacturing Company filed articles of incorporation in January 1906.9 The officers were Gaetano Borelli, president; Nicola Del Duca, vice-president; Antonio Ferro, secretary and general manager; Erminio De Rocca, treasurer. Antonio Ferro's brother, Frank Ferro, was also an early partner in the company. Within a few years, Antonio Ferro had bought out the other partners and was producing pasta under the "Queen's Taste" brand name. Antonio Ferro was born in southern Italy in 1872 where his family owned a large farm. He immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1894 to pursue work in mining. His employment took him west to Colorado and Mercur, Utah. He eventually established a grocery business in Salt Lake City in 1896. After taking control of the Western Macaroni Company, Antonio Ferro found a partner in Reuben Edgar Miller whose family owned several businesses including a flour mill. Reuben E. Miller served as the president of the company through the 1910s and most of the 1920s, but lived in Murray, Utah, had several other business ventures, and does not appear to have been involved with the day-to-day operation of the macaroni factory. After some early setbacks, including a fine for stealing electricity from the municipal transit grid and a devastating fire (both in 1909), by the 1910s, the macaroni company was a success.10 A newspaper article from 1911 estimated that the daily output from the factory was 4,000 pounds of pasta in forty different styles. Salt Lake City building permits indicate that the building was expanded with a one-story addition built by S. Demario in 1912. In August 1915, two permits were issued for alterations at $1,850 (no builder listed) and a $5,000 three-story brick addition built by F. E. Fletcher. During World War I, the company's market share grew as shipments of products from Europe were cut off. Although the company did not have a rail spur next to its factory, the company used the rail for its long distance shipments as well as marketing. Entire railcars full of pasta were labeled with placards declaring each was a "Carload of Queens Taste Macaroni from Western Macaroni Mfg. Company, Salt Lake City, Utah."11 In 1918, Antonio Ferro began replacing the company's horse-drawn wagons with Kissel trucks for local deliveries.12 During the 1910s and 1920s, the Western Macaroni Company had little local competition. The few companies, such as the International Macaroni Company and Tenenzio & Son, only stayed in business for a few years (both demolished). A 5 Salt Lake Tribune, August 23, 1900: 5. Both ice companies had another, more prominent, place of business. The 500 West property would have been a secondary location. 7 The Western Macaroni Company never owned the land or the older section of the building, but maintained a long-term lease on the property. 8 Salt Lake Tribune, October 1, 1905: 9. 9 Salt Lake Tribune, January 12, 1906: 12. 10 Salt Lake Tribune, March 3, 1909: 3; Salt Lake Tribune, July 24, 1909: 3. According to news reports, both the building and its contents were covered by insurance. 11 Salt Lake Telegram, November 19, 1916: 7. 12 Salt Lake Tribune, June 16, 1918: 30. 6 7 |
