Home Packing Company

Wabash Valley profiles : a series of tributes to hometown people and events that have shaped our history

Description:	One typed page including a photograph of Home Packing Co. in 1962. A brief history of Home Packing & Ice Co., a pork packing plant in Terre Haute. Individuals mentioned include John McFall, Robert McFall, John L. Barbazette, William W. Ray, Buena Vista Marshall, Fred E. McFall, Robert S. Scott, Donal W. Scott, Warren G. Bud Rockwood, Robert F. Scott, George L. Obenchain. ABASH VALLEY WP R O F I L E SA series of tributes to hometown heroes who have made a difference.Home Packing Co.ounded by John McFall, Robert McFall, John L. Barbazette, William W. Ray and Buena Vista Marshall in 1907, Home Packing & Ice Co. -- later shortened to the Home Packing Co. -- served Wabash Valley livestock dealers and consumers for nearly 56 years. A native of Staunton, Va., John McFall was president, chief executive officer and largest stockholder for the first 18 years the company was in business. He also served as a director of McKeen National Bank and the United States Trust Co., both predecessors of Terre Haute First National Bank. McFall was capably succeeded at Home Packing by Fred E. McFall and Robert S. Scott. In its infancy, the Home Packing plant handled about 350 swine each week. The company gradually expanded operations at 400 North First St., eventually covering more than two city blocks. During peak years, it had 400 employees and processed about 8,000 hogs and 500 cattle each week, transporting its Dependable brand hams, bacon and lard to virtually every state and eight foreign countries. Customers within 165 miles of Terre Haute were served by its own fleet of trucks. At about 7 a.m. on January 2, 1963, an explosion caused by a natural gas leak in the utility line demolished the plant, killing 16 employees and injuring 52 others. Among the fatalities was sales manager Donald W. Scott, brother of the president. The disaster occurred only 18 months after Home Packing had completed a three-year building and remodeling program. The plant was not rebuilt. At the time the firm was liquidated, Warren G. Bud Rockwood and Robert F. Scott were vice presidents and George L. Obenchain was secretary-treasurer.FHome Packing Co. in June 1962TERRE HAUTE(812) 238-6000NATIONAL BANKAlways Close to HomeRide the Terre Haute buses FREE the first Friday of every month, compliments of Terre Haute First National Bank.FREE fareFRIDAY
Origin:	2001-11-18
Created By:	McCormick, Mike
Publisher:	Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/vchs/id/543
Collection:	Vigo County Historical Society
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Copyright:	Copyright Undetermined
Subjects:	Pork Meat industry Swine Business & Industry

Further information on this record can be found at its source.