Nice photos. My Grandpa retired after 40 years there in 1982. He passed away this past June. Great memories from when I was a kid of living across from Lafayette park and meeting him walking home from work. Sounds cheesy, but every time I drive by there I think of those times and how busy of a neighborhood it used to be. The smell, the sounds of buzzers and bells ending shifts, the trucks and train traffic. Good old days, indeed!
My grandparents both worked there during the 40s, and 50s. I used to drive past this building on my way to their house. It is an amazing piece of architecture, and a staple in the history of Waterloo. Not many remnants of the past still around in Waterloo.
John Rath was my great-grandfather. I've never seen this building before and it is both fascinating and heartbreaking to see it now in this condition. Things were never the same after my grandfather, Howard Rath, retired in 1964.
My dad, Charles S. Henning (but everyone called him PETE) retired from Rath in the early 60's. He was a traveling salesman, only home on weekends. I remember he had a black Ford with a big Indian head in the doors. I still have the spatula he used to demonstrate new products. I hope the remodel is a success. Thank you.
Grew up on Mulberry St a few blocks away.Still remember the smell of the packing house and Alstadt & Langlis Bakery.Miss the smell of the bakery,but not the packing house.
OH wow, thanks for the memories...I get so nostalgic this time of year so Googled the Rath Packing Company. I worked there from 1966 to 1968 while my husband went to Northern Iowa College. I was a secretary to 2 salesmen...Floyd Nelson and Lee Schneider. I replaced Chery Knoop. They were all such nice people. I remember typing up sales orders for bellies and stomachs and to this day still wonder why the stomach orders were for only 10, 000 pounds and the belly orders were 40, 000+ pounds.
Hey cousin. Howard Rath was my great uncle. I remember him pretty well but Aunt Mary lived much longer and I remember her better. I still have an H.O. Scale train set that says Rath Packing Co. on the cars. I know your mom and my mother have stayed in touch over the years but it's crazy that we have never met.
This was a great video of a great Midwest institution. My grandfather was one of several early Black men who worked there, beginning in 1946 and retired in early 1986. Working conditions especially for Black men were deplorable. No representation in the union, paid 25% less than the white men for the same jobs, and no health benefits. But by the mid-60s things got better he told me. Overall, the pay was great compared to what many of these men (and their fathers') earned prior to migrating north, and were able to buy a house and raise a family. So for that, we are thankful what those men endured.
I grew up across the river and behind mama Nicks pizza. I still remember the smells coming from that place and it wasn't the smell of bacon being smoked. I even had some high school buddies get hired before they closed down. Glad they plan to save the building!
Thanks for sharing... my parents/uncles were friends of the Raths. They owned Titus Mfg... having live here my entire 59+ years, I would love to gather more info/photos of the history of this great town... your video/photos are exactly the type of thing I want to gather and capture for history!
My Grandfather was a Rath Salesman...I have in my fridge, and am the third generation to keep, a Rath Canned Ham. My children think I'm nutz and I might be, but I look forward to passing it down to them :-)
It's too bad this building still sits empty. I think the plans to renovate must have fallen through. I would love to see some of these buildings be saved as they are definitely historical. Unfortunately, it takes time and money, neither of which most people have much of.
The Rath Family came from Ackley and Miss Helen Rath was a high school teacher until the 1970's. The Rath family owned a bank in Ackley and the family home there became the Nursing home and still stands.
And to continue...I quit when I got pregnant and remember the HR woman telling me in all the years she'd worked there she never needed to ask a 5 month pregnant woman for a doctor's proof of pregnancy....oh I was such a skinny Minnie back then. And I worked with 2 women...oh please forgive me I can only remember the name of one...Norma...darn the other name is on the tip of my tongue. They came to visit me in Decorah after I had my son...I sure hope I told you how much that meant to me.
I am coming into the picture late. However I would love to see if anyone has any actual verifiable history of the Rath Family. As you can see by my name I am a Rath. My father was Michael Robert Rath. I never knew my father. I only know my Grandmother has told me that Michael Sr. told her back in the early 1970's that his grandfather owned the Rath meat packing company. he would have been in his early 20's at that time. I am just trying to finally trace back my history to see where my other half leads to. If anyone has any information please leave a message. Thanks a bunch.
The last owner of Rath that I am aware of was J.W. (John), but Michael may have been his son. The business died so heavily in debt, and basically lost millions throughout most of the 1970s, that the Rath family became very unpopular. They were blamed, because they held the business very close to the vest, didn't take advice or input from outsiders about how to run the business, and thus when it failed, that's who people turned to. The union bought the company as a last ditch effort in the 1981, but the business was all ready in hospice care. They never should have wasted their money.
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Nice photos. My Grandpa retired after 40 years there in 1982. He passed away this past June. Great memories from when I was a kid of living across from Lafayette park and meeting him walking home from work. Sounds cheesy, but every time I drive by there I think of those times and how busy of a neighborhood it used to be. The smell, the sounds of buzzers and bells ending shifts, the trucks and train traffic. Good old days, indeed!
My grandparents both worked there during the 40s, and 50s. I used to drive past this building on my way to their house. It is an amazing piece of architecture, and a staple in the history of Waterloo. Not many remnants of the past still around in Waterloo.
John Rath was my great-grandfather. I've never seen this building before and it is both fascinating and heartbreaking to see it now in this condition. Things were never the same after my grandfather, Howard Rath, retired in 1964.
My dad, Charles S. Henning (but everyone called him PETE) retired from Rath in the early 60's. He was a traveling salesman, only home on weekends. I remember he had a black Ford with a big Indian head in the doors. I still have the spatula he used to demonstrate new products. I hope the remodel is a success. Thank you.
Grew up on Mulberry St a few blocks away.Still remember the smell of the packing house and Alstadt & Langlis Bakery.Miss the smell of the bakery,but not the packing house.
OH wow, thanks for the memories...I get so nostalgic this time of year so Googled the Rath Packing Company. I worked there from 1966 to 1968 while my husband went to Northern Iowa College. I was a secretary to 2 salesmen...Floyd Nelson and Lee Schneider. I replaced Chery Knoop. They were all such nice people. I remember typing up sales orders for bellies and stomachs and to this day still wonder why the stomach orders were for only 10, 000 pounds and the belly orders were 40, 000+ pounds.
Hey cousin. Howard Rath was my great uncle. I remember him pretty well but Aunt Mary lived much longer and I remember her better. I still have an H.O. Scale train set that says Rath Packing Co. on the cars. I know your mom and my mother have stayed in touch over the years but it's crazy that we have never met.
This was a great video of a great Midwest institution. My grandfather was one of several early Black men who worked there, beginning in 1946 and retired in early 1986. Working conditions especially for Black men were deplorable. No representation in the union, paid 25% less than the white men for the same jobs, and no health benefits. But by the mid-60s things got better he told me. Overall, the pay was great compared to what many of these men (and their fathers') earned prior to migrating north, and were able to buy a house and raise a family. So for that, we are thankful what those men endured.
the house i live in was owned by the rath family. its very intresting. to me it seems that they liked big places and things. :) i loved the video -kb
I grew up across the river and behind mama Nicks pizza. I still remember the smells coming from that place and it wasn't the smell of bacon being smoked.
I even had some high school buddies get hired before they closed down.
Glad they plan to save the building!
Thanks for sharing... my parents/uncles were friends of the Raths. They owned Titus Mfg... having live here my entire 59+ years, I would love to gather more info/photos of the history of this great town... your video/photos are exactly the type of thing I want to gather and capture for history!
My Grandfather was a Rath Salesman...I have in my fridge, and am the third generation to keep, a Rath Canned Ham. My children think I'm nutz and I might be, but I look forward to passing it down to them :-)
My Great grandmother ( buela frye) was the elevator operator in this building back in the 40's.. she worked 10 hour days, 10cents an hour.
It's too bad this building still sits empty. I think the plans to renovate must have fallen through. I would love to see some of these buildings be saved as they are definitely historical. Unfortunately, it takes time and money, neither of which most people have much of.
My Grandfather worked here for over 30 yrs until his death in 1971.
I recall Dad speaking into the talkbox: Strong, Remington Rand, and the door unlocked. Roughly 1963.
I don't remember but I do remember Kathy now. She was a sweetheart too. I would just love to catch up with them both.
The Rath Family came from Ackley and Miss Helen Rath was a high school teacher until the 1970's. The Rath family owned a bank in Ackley and the family home there became the Nursing home and still stands.
@DrCrandall Did you know my grandpa, Ken Bloes? He worked in the administrative building from around 1948 to 1980.
Surprised it was still restorable.
@reboot9580
Would love to see those pictures. Have you posted them? If so, not sure where to find them.
Thanks.
i live right across frome this place
So what about the renovation if it started in the spring i didn't hear anything about it
Kathy...I remembered your name :o) And I'm pretty sure you spelled it with a 'K'. Now what was our supervisor's name? She was quite a gal!!
@TheSmatts I'm sorry...I don't think I did.
And to continue...I quit when I got pregnant and remember the HR woman telling me in all the years she'd worked there she never needed to ask a 5 month pregnant woman for a doctor's proof of pregnancy....oh I was such a skinny Minnie back then. And I worked with 2 women...oh please forgive me I can only remember the name of one...Norma...darn the other name is on the tip of my tongue. They came to visit me in Decorah after I had my son...I sure hope I told you how much that meant to me.
I am coming into the picture late. However I would love to see if anyone has any actual verifiable history of the Rath Family. As you can see by my name I am a Rath. My father was Michael Robert Rath. I never knew my father. I only know my Grandmother has told me that Michael Sr. told her back in the early 1970's that his grandfather owned the Rath meat packing company. he would have been in his early 20's at that time. I am just trying to finally trace back my history to see where my other half leads to. If anyone has any information please leave a message. Thanks a bunch.
The last owner of Rath that I am aware of was J.W. (John), but Michael may have been his son. The business died so heavily in debt, and basically lost millions throughout most of the 1970s, that the Rath family became very unpopular. They were blamed, because they held the business very close to the vest, didn't take advice or input from outsiders about how to run the business, and thus when it failed, that's who people turned to. The union bought the company as a last ditch effort in the 1981, but the business was all ready in hospice care. They never should have wasted their money.
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