Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Neuman, Curry, Andraska
----Source: Tribune Record Gleaner (Loyal, Clark Co., WI) 1/17/1974
Loyal’s - Borden’s Cheese Warehouse (17 January 1974)
Mingling with Mary (By Mary Woods)
Back in 1927, on Saturday afternoons, Harold “Heinie” Neuman would go to a site on the east side of Loyal and carry bricks that would later develop into a cheesemaking plant. Now 47 years later, Neuman is retiring from the same building and business of which he has been employed for the past 43½ years. The building and business – Borden’s Cheese Warehouse.
Born in a cheese factory, which his father owned and operated, Neuman attended and graduated from the Loyal High School in 1929 and the following year began working at the then known Lakeshire plant, making cheese. He had received his cheesemaking license from the state at the age of 14 due to the illness of his father. The Lakeshire Company had constructed the building in 1928 and had sold the business to Borden’s in 1940. The plant was used for making cheese from time of construction until 1938 when the building was turned into a cheese warehouse.
Recalling the employment and business during 1930 – 1938, Neuman states that the plant made American, Swiss, and brick cheese, and employed 38 people who worked shifts to keep the plant operating 24 hours a day. At the present day, the plant employs four men during the summer months and three during the winter.
After working in the plant for several years, Neuman was named as manager in 1939. When World War II broke out, the U. S. Army controlled the plant, under the management of Major Curry of Camp McCoy. Neuman states that the plant stored strictly Army cheese which was shipped to all Army and Navy camps within the U.S. and overseas. After the war, in 1945, the plant was turned back over for private storage for the Borden Company, with Neuman again heading the plant.
Speaking about the present-day warehouse, Neuman states that now six million pounds of cheese, in steel barrels, is stored in the warehouse. Twelve area factories import their cheese with the cheese being hauled out by Hub City, and by rail to Plymouth, Wis., Sacramento, Calif., and Paris, Texas. The cheese is shipped in 500-pound steel barrels, with shipments going out daily.
Reflecting on the job that is soon ending, Neuman estimates that he has worked with over 200 men at the warehouse since he began his job. “Being manager, in the warehouse isn’t like most managing jobs because, first I work and then I do my books and other business,” stated Neuman.
Neuman and his wife Viola have six children, Jerry, Jack, Jan, Jan, Karen, and Kay, with a son Paul deceased. The Neumans’ are also the proud grandparents of 21 grandchildren.
Besides work at the Borden’s Warehouse, Neuman is also an active member of the Knights of Columbus, being a recorder for the group, a lector, and usher at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church of Loyal, and had previously enjoyed bowling. During his bowling tournaments, he bowled and still holds the State Knights of Columbus score for high doubles, 1392, which he bowled in the year 1970, with Richard Andraska. Neuman also stated that this is the first year in 12 that he will miss the KC state bowling tournament. He is also a member of Borden’s Quarter Century Club.
On January 31, Neuman will leave the Borden’s Warehouse, leaving behind many years of dedication and service to the company and adding a well-organized and managed business to the Loyal area. Who is to succeed him is not known yet. Two days later Neuman and his wife will leave for a vacation in Arizona where they will spend the remainder of the winter and return to Loyal in April.
From carrying bricks to manager, and now to “enjoying life” a little more, Neuman states “that I am not going to sit down, but remain active in the community and doing things that I enjoy,” and no doubt he will remain and be seen walking down the streets of Loyal, greeting people with a warm smile and his familiar “Good morning, it’s a nice day, isn’t it!”
