Cigar making among skills now gone

The interior of the AB Cigar Company, Menomonie, appeared like this in October, 1914. Cigar makers sat at tables and rolled tobacco. The cigars were then placed in forms and put in a press, right foreground.

     Fifty years ago a man in this area could walk into a store and buy cigars which were made in this vicinity. There were a number of cigar-making firms around.
     Eau Claire had several, and one at Menomonie operated by the Anderson brothers was said to be one of the largest in northern Wisconsin.
     Workers generally turned out about 2,000 handmade cigars a week.
     Anderson Brothers established their firm in 1893 with capitalization of $40,000. The company was reported to have turned out two million cigars a year in peak production.
     It became known as the AB Cigar Company and was located on the Red Cedar River in Menomonie.

Started as teenagers

     As with many other jobs of the time, cigar makers often became affiliated with a company as teenagers doing general cleaning and errands. When an opening came, they were there to fill a job. Sometimes it took as long as three years to gain a spot.
     At one time the AB Company had 33 cigar makers. The firm distributed cigars from 50 to 75 miles around Menomonie.
      The cigar maker wasn't paid much money, but like most jobs of the time it was enough to make a living. Workers were paid about $10 per thousand cigars and a good maker, if he really worked hard, could make 300 cigars in a day.
     Most factories ran from 7 a.m. to noon, then from 1 until 5 or 5:30 p.m., six days a week. Sometimes if the demand was up for the company was shorthanded, employees might work at night.
     Names of cigars made in Menomonie included the "AB" a five-center; the "Lazinada," a 10-center, and the "Menomonie Club" which sold two for a quarter.
     Other brands of cigars made in Menomonie through this ear were the "Anderson Club," "Havana Puffs," "Ideal," "Belles of Menomonie," "Sweet Rose Brand," "LaRose," "Castella," "Pink Lady," "Red Star," "Lind," "The Key West," "and the "Christina."
     At one time there were nine cigar making firms in Eau Claire. They were Julius Derge, Herman F. Gerke, Conrad Feige, Daniel Hinrichs, Korn Brothers, William F. Lieske, Louis Rheim, Fred Stussy and the West & Walterdorf Co.
     Chippewa Falls cigar making firms included the Bollinger Bros. and Pepein, Jacob Krejei and Wm Halbleib.

Extracted from the Eau Claire Leader Telegram
Special Publication, Our Story 'The Chippewa Valley and Beyond', published 1976
Used with permission.