Fuhrman and Forster Company facts for kids

The Fuhrman and Forster Company was a business in Chicago that made and sold meat products, especially sausages. It was started by three German immigrants.

How the Company Started

The Fuhrman and Forster Company was founded by three German immigrants from Bavaria. John and Andrew Fuhrman, who were brothers, started a meat market called Fuhrman Brothers in Chicago in 1897. In 1898, their brother-in-law, George Forster, joined them. This led to the name Fuhrman Bros. and Forster Meat Markets. Soon after, the name changed to the Fuhrman and Forster Co.

By 1902, the company ran five meat markets in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Many Czech and Slovakian immigrants lived in this area. They really enjoyed the Fuhrman and Forster products.

Products and Delivery

One of the company's popular products was their lard, which is animal fat used for baking. Women especially liked it for their cooking.

Getting Products to Customers

At first, the company used horse-drawn delivery wagons. These wagons were a common sight in the neighborhood. They delivered Fuhrman and Forster products to many local butcher shops and the company's own stores. The horses were kept in stables behind one of their stores.

By 1919, motor trucks replaced the horses and wagons. At one time, the company had 75 trucks! The company officially became a corporation in 1920. In 1923, they closed all their retail stores. This allowed them to focus only on packing pork and making sausages.

By the 1940s, their yellow and blue trucks delivered products. They went to customers on Chicago's west side and to nearby suburbs like Berwyn, Cicero, and Riverside. The company used different types of trucks, mostly from International and GMC. They owned their own fleet of trucks. For a few years in the late 1930s, Hertz Corp. owned and operated the trucks, leasing them to Fuhrman and Forster Co. The trucks were kept in a garage on Blue Island Avenue.

There was a time when Fuhrman and Forster products were more popular in some parts of Chicago than those from the Oscar Mayer Company.

Challenges and Successes

Like many businesses, the Fuhrman and Forster Company faced tough times during the Great Depression. This was a period when the economy was very bad. The company also had to deal with the deaths of co-founders Andrew Fuhrman in 1930 and John Fuhrman in 1931.

However, people still needed to eat, so sales were enough to keep the business going. When World War II began, the hard times temporarily ended. The company's total sales reached about $4.0 million a year.

Company Milestones

In 1947, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary. An article about them appeared in the National Provisioner Magazine that year.

However, in the early 1950s, meat prices dropped a lot. This made it too difficult for the Fuhrman and Forster Company to continue. The company closed down in May 1955. An auction was held in September of that year to sell off everything the company owned. The money was then given to the people who owned parts of the company.

Product Names

Many Fuhrman and Forster products were sold under the name "Select Brand." They also made products for other stores. Their most popular "house brand" was "Hilbran," sold by Hillman's Grocery Stores in Chicago, which are now closed.

When the Fuhrman and Forster Company closed, Arthur Forster was the President. Lawrence Forster was the Secretary. Both were sons of co-founder George Forster. Herbert Krueger, who was the son-in-law of co-founder John Fuhrman, was the Treasurer.

What Remains Today

The main building of the Fuhrman and Forster Company is no longer standing. However, the garage where their trucks were kept and a cold storage building are still there and in good condition. Part of the main building can still be seen at 1847 S. Blue Island.