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History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925
C. A. Durr Packing Co.

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[This information is from Vol. III, pp. 148-149 of History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925, edited by Nelson Greene (Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1925). It is in the Reference collection of the Schenectady County Public Library at R 974.7 G81h. This online edition includes lists of portraits, maps and illustrations. As noted by Paul Keesler in his article, "The Much Maligned Mr. Greene," some information in this book has been superseded by later research or was provided incorrectly by local sources.]

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The genius of Christian A. Durr of Utica, New York, has brought into being an industry which has helped to spread the name and fame of that city within a comparatively few years. The industry known as the C. A. Durr Packing Company, Incorporated, has grown into a mighty enterprise whose products are known and recognized for their high quality far and wide.

Christian A. Durr came to the United States in the fall of 1889, his age being twenty-one years. He possessed little in a monetary way but was rich in the attributes of industry and perseverance. After his arrival in Utica he worked for a time in a meat market at modest wages, and in 1890 started a retail meat business for himself on Court street, remaining in this location for two years. In 1892 he acquired a property at the corner of Eagle street, where he established his retail meat business, and in addition started packing pork and making sausage. Business continued to grow and still larger quarters became necessary and a site was purchased at the foot of Schuyler street, where Mr. Durr conducted a small packing plant. The superior quality of his products became widely known and the plant was enlarged from time to time.

In January, 1917, the C. A. Durr Packing Company was incorporated and Mr. Durr was elected president, which office he held until his death in 1921. The company was then reorganized with Herman A. Amberg, president; Jacob F. Ammann, vice president; John M. Snyder, treasurer, and Fred G. Reusswig, secretary. Mr. Amberg, president, has been connected with the company since 1918. He is an experienced packer and formerly was connected with the H. L. Handy Company of Springfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Ammann, the vice president, was a retail meat dealer for many years and in 1911 became connected with the company. Mr. Snyder, treasurer, became identified with the company following Mr. Durr's death in 1921. For many years he was manager of the local branch of Armour & Company. Mr. Reusswig, secretary, has been identified with the company since its reorganization in 1921.

The Durr products are known in every corner of New York state. The company operates a fleet of fifteen motor trucks, and twenty-five salesmen with coupes are employed in soliciting orders, and deliveries are made within a radius of one hundred miles directly by motor truck. The number of employes of the company runs into the hundreds and the annual sales in excess of three million dollars. Included among the various popular brands put out by the company are "Special" hams, bacon, sausage and frankfurters, "Daisy" hams, and "White Swan" lard under the high-grade quality of "Durr's Mohawk Valley Brand."

The directors of the Durr Company are Herman Amberg, Jacob Ammann, John M. Snyder, Mrs. Margaret Durr and Fred G. Reusswig. The rapid expansion of this plant is indeed a striking testimonial to the business ability and foresight of its founder, which has made the enterprise in this brief time stand among the leading industries of its kind in this section of country.

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