Bemis Company 2007 Annual Report - IR Solutions

In 1900, in order to secure a dependable supply of high-quality cotton for use
in bag production, Bemis Bro. Bag Co. bought a 300-acre site near Jackson,
Tennessee. The site became the town of Bemis, the bag company’s first company
town. Judson Moss Bemis’ son, Albert Farwell Bemis, took an active
roll in designing Bemis, Tennessee to provide employees with all
the necessities of life at the turn of the century like schools,
churches, shops, and even a YMCA. The town also boasted
luxuries like wide, tree-lined streets, sizable homes, and
ample space for sports and community events. By the
time it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1950, the
town’s population had reached 4,000, and more than
a quarter of the inhabitants were employed at the
Bemis mill. Bemis operated the Jackson Fibre Department
and Cotton Mill in Tennessee until 1980.
Bemis Bro. Bag Company continued to expand and develop new products
throughout the early decades of the twentieth century. In 1913, the company
opened its first paper mill and plant as paper bags gained popularity
across the country. In 1929, Bemis began using tightly woven
strips of paper in the creation of open mesh fabrics that
were widely used in the merchandising of citrus fruits,
potatoes, apples, and onions. Bemis also developed
Deltaseal, a method for closing the tops of small
paper bags in a way that allowed consumers to
easily dispense the product inside. During the
1930s, Bemis began to sell patterned cotton feed
sacks and flour bags. These strong, durable bags
were printed with decorative
patterns and could be used by
thrifty consumers to create dresses,
aprons, pajamas, children’s clothes,
and other household necessities.
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Celebrating 150 Years