Universal Laboratories Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Universal Laboratories Building
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The Universal Laboratories Building from the southeast
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 901 First St. N., Dassel, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | H.E. Swanson |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000191 |
| Added to NRHP | March 1, 1996 |
The Universal Laboratories Building is a special building in Dassel, Minnesota, United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. This building is famous for its role in making a substance called ergot from the mid-1930s to the late 1960s.
Contents
The Start of Universal Laboratories
The company began in 1935 as Rice Laboratories. It first made yeast to add to livestock feed for animals like pigs and chickens. Yeast helped animals digest their food better and get more nutrients.
In 1937, the company built this new building in Dassel. That same year, the manager, Lester R. Peel, started making ergot.
What is Ergot?
Ergot is a type of fungus that grows on rye and other grains. Farmers used to throw away rye that had ergot on it because it could be harmful. However, Lester R. Peel, who used to be a school teacher, knew that ergot also had important uses in medicine.
Doctors could use ergot to help control bleeding after childbirth. It was also used to treat certain types of headaches and other medical conditions.
How Ergot Was Made
Lester R. Peel named his new ergot business Universal Laboratories. At first, they bought rye with ergot from local farmers.
Separating Ergot from Rye
The staff at Universal Laboratories would put the rye through small mills. These mills would break up the rye kernels. Workers would then pick out the rye grains from a conveyor belt, letting the ergot fall into bags. The company even hired people in Dassel to pick and bag ergot from their homes.
Later, new machines made the process much easier. These machines used gravity to separate the light ergot kernels from the heavier rye kernels. The grain would go through mills and then into special spiraling chutes.
Why Ergot Production Was Important
Lester R. Peel started making ergot at a very good time. Before this, the United States often had trouble getting enough ergot.
Global Ergot Supply Issues
For a long time, Russia was the main country that sold ergot to the world. But after the Russian Revolution in 1917, their supply stopped. Then, Spain became the top producer. However, the Spanish Civil War in 1936 also stopped their supply.
To make sure he had enough ergot, Peel started teaching farmers about how important ergot was. Eli Lilly and Company, a big customer of Universal Laboratories, also helped spread the word.
Supplying Ergot During World War II
Universal Laboratories started getting a lot of ergotic rye. They stored it in a grain elevator in downtown Dassel. During World War II, this company supplied most of the ergot made in the United States. In 1940, they produced about 60,000 pounds. In 1941, they made even more, around 100,000 pounds!
The End of Ergot Production
Even after World War II, Eli Lilly and Company continued to buy ergot from Universal Laboratories. Lester R. Peel passed away in 1959. Around that time, the company stopped making yeast.
In the late 1960s, Eli Lilly started buying ergot from European suppliers instead. Universal Laboratories kept going for a little longer, selling ergot to another company called Burroughs Wellcome. But in 1975, the business closed down.
The building was empty for many years. Then, in the late 1990s, people from Dassel fixed it up. Today, the Universal Laboratories Building is home to the Dassel Area Historical Society and its museum.
Dassel History Center & Ergot Museum
The Dassel History Center & Ergot Museum is run by the Dassel Area Historical Society. It has exhibits that show the history of farming, medicine, and local life in the area.
What You Can See at the Museum
- You can learn about the medical and social history of ergot, the fungus that grows on rye.
- There's an exhibit about a special type of corn seed developed nearby.
- You can see a display of an old pharmacy.
- Learn about local politician Magnus Johnson.
The museum also has changing exhibits about other local history topics.
