Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

Reliance Shirt Factory
Opened here in '28
written by Bertha Finn
(published in the Anamosa Joumal, September 30, 1978, Toberead as I978)
There were 154 people at the Reliance Company
reunion luncheon of former employees and their
spouses Sunday, September 24, at the Fawn Creek
County Club.
The event coincided with the 50th Anniversary of
locating the factory, which is known colloquially as ‘the
"l was making nine dollars per week", recalled Bus
Davenport, who worked for the factory from 1933-37
"lt was raised to $13 dollars a week. or $58 per month.
Postage stamps were then two cents and sometimes we
didn't even have that."
Don Bunce reminisced, "1 have never known a more
dedicated, hard working group of people. Mel Stoecker
and a Reliance man and I went to Kansas City to meet
with the War Labor Board and returned with a sevencent
per hour increase and it was met with rejoicing."
Davenport said, “That was when the Maid-Rite
(located on the north side of Main Street, east of the
alley, between Ford and Garnaviilo streets) was
practically an annex of the factory. You could buy a
very large hamburger for 10 cents and a glass of milk
for a nickel and make a mea1."Someone added, "Yeh.
Memories
Shirt Factory’. in Anamosa. September 1928.
Those helping plan the reunion were Mrs. Percy
Ruhl. who originated the idea; Mrs. Art Marek; Mrs.
Gearhad Kray: Buster Davenport, who emceed the
program: Mr. and Mrs. Don Bunce, Tootie Scott, and
Mrs. Don Woods.
and a beer for 10 cents." News of the Reliance
company locating in Anamosa was met with rejoicing
during the Depression in March 1928, when William
Taradash of the Reliance and Stirling Manufacturing
Co. came to town and assured businessmen that if they
would provide a site, a garment factory would be
located here.
Willing civic leaders formed a stock-holding company
known as the Anamosa Improvement Corporation and
a modern two-story plant was built on North Gamavillo
Street.
Over 600 persons attended a celebration dance held
in August 1928 in the first floor of the new building.
The Sterling company had an apron factory located
inside the walls of the Anamosa Men's Reformatory
since 1921. However, the renewal of the state contracts
Interior view of Reliance Manufacturing Co. trimming room. (Submitted byKathryn Barnes.)
195