In traveling north toward our next great adventure,
Alaska, we found ourselves cruising along the expressway that
cuts through Minnesota. As we traveled along the flat expanses in
the eastern part of the state, Laura commented that it was
getting more difficult to find stories that were interesting.
"Jaded" is what it came out. We have seen so much that
we find that many of the attractions we come across are
duplications of something found in another state. It was at that
point that I first saw the billboard announcing something I could
really sink my teeth into. A tasty tidbit of information
proclaiming a savory story that I knew I had to consume with
gusto. Austin, MN, is home for the Hormel Food Co., and the main
point of creation for one of my most favorite breakfast foods,
luncheon meat, and dinner additive. If you're a SPAM lover, you
will
heartily
agree that the SPAM museum is a must visit for anyone passing
this way. The building is a one story brick structure with blue
and yellow trim, those famous colors for this prestigious can.
The approach has a life size bronze statue of the heart of the
business, a farmer driving his hogs before him. I had to join
this stoic figure for a photo opportunity before venturing into
the history and memorabilia of what I have always considered a
culinary delight, much to the chagrin of many of my friends. The
lobby is spacious and warm feeling with several delightful
volunteers ready to assist with brochures and helpful guidance.
On the back wall was a most interesting photographic mosaic.
Hundreds of small photos of Hormel workers on the job had been
stained with reds and blues, than assembled in a specific
pattern. When looking at the individual
pictures up close, they seem to be normal photos
with a slight tinge of color transparency. However when stepping
away the color transparency blended together forming a definite
image of the SPAM can. It was quite clever and something I had
not seen before. Across the room was Spamy, the little can
character that represents this most interesting product.
Again, there was a moment for photos. With this completed, we
delved into the mystery of the mystery meat we had come to find
out about. The story had its humble beginning with the son of a
German tanner, and recent immigrant trying to make a living in
the new world. Into this family was born John G. Hormel. He
failed to follow in his father's footsteps, preferring to do an
assortment of jobs for his nephew's packinghouse where he
cashiered,
delivered,
butchered, packed and shipped meat. George soon had learned
enough about the meat business for him to take a chance, and in
1891 he formed the George A. Hormel & Company consisting of
himself and one employee. George would soon marry and have a son.
After WWI his son, now grown, was given the task of developing a
superior ham sealed in a can. And thus the canned ham became a
common product around the country. It was here that I had one of
my old beliefs dispelled. SPAM was not actually developed for the
US Army in WWII. It was first created in 1937 as a luncheon meat.
It enjoyed relative popularity as a result of a steady exposure
in advertising. Just about anybody, who was anybody in Hollywood,
got a shot at describing the delights of SPAM. Tasty,
inexpensive, and with a long shelf life, it slowly found its
home in the American kitchen. Within just a few years, Europe
found itself in the throes of war, and America came to Britain's
aid with the famous "Lend Lease " program. The English
were starving, and America was sending
tons of food in support. Ton after ton of SPAM hit
the shipping lanes in convoys stretching across the Atlantic. It
always seemed to be plentiful where most other foods were
lacking. The Lend Lease program ended on December 7th, 1941, when
the US was bombed by Japan and entered the war. Now it was the
dogface solider, trudging through the hedgerows of France that
carried the SPAM can. As the war dragged on SPAM became a
household name for the military. Songs were sung, poems written
and everywhere stories of the creativity of desperate army cooks
trying to disguise, the nice, but oh so consistent taste of what
had become the mainstay staple of an entire military complex.
There were some other interesting things to be witnessed. Laura
found herself assembling a can of SPAM against the clock that,
instead of ticking off seconds, ticked off cans of SPAM made in
the factory. She actually got pretty good, being able to complete
a can in the amount of time the factory would have made 159
cans. The
next to the last room contained a model supermarket with all the
Hormel products displayed much as they are found in stores. What
surprised both of us, was the number of products made by Hormel
that carry other product names, such as Chi-chi. The last room
was a gift shop with everything imaginable containing the SPAM
logo. Cases of SPAM lined the walls, there were several I had
never tried, and of course I had to have a can of each, so armed
with all the delights of the day, I waddled out in anticipation
of many a morning's breakfast featuring that famous
gastrointestinal treat SPAM.
*** THE END ***