Located at the Northern Pacific Railway tracks and 9th Street in Moorhead, Minnesota, the Cass-Clay Cooperative Creamery Association opened for business on October 1, 1935. Emil Mattson was the first general manger. He was replaced by Ludwig Thompson in 1937. Joe Thompson succeeded his brother and was replaced by one of the original creamery founders, Charles Ommodt, in 1942. The creamery outgrew its building and Cass-Clay built a new building at First Avenue and Ninth Street South, Moorhead in 1941. Membership in the Cass-Clay Cooperative Creamery Association had grown to 1500 by 1942. In 1953, the decision was made to move the plant operations to Fargo, North Dakota. Tax advantages and the fact that 75% of Cass-Clay business was in deliveries to Fargo were cited in announcing the move. Cass-Clay had partial operation in the new 1 ½ million Fargo plant in 1955 and completed moving its general offices into the new facilities in 1957. In 1962, Charles Ommodt retired and Vernon Sjoquist became general manger. He was succeeded by Donald Ommodt in 1966. Cass-Clay continued to grow and expand its operation both in location and new products. In 1978, Cass-Clay was operating plants in Fargo-Moorhead, Aberdeen, South Dakota and Grand Forks, Mandan, and Rugby, all in North Dakota. By 1981, Cass-Clay operated 30 branch plants in three states. 1983 net sales amounted to $104 million ad payroll totaled $9 million.
The business records of Cass-Clay Creamery, Inc. include the company’s articles of incorporation, by-laws, early histories, egg and milk accounts, financial records, company background material, newspaper clippings, payroll records, photographs, state and federal reports, and stockholder lists. The records are arranged by topic with sub-topic under administrative records. The records are arranged alphabetically and chronologically within the topics.
Advertisement Material/Lyric Sheet/Jingle
Annual Reports. 1947, 1965, 1967, 1975-83
Articles of Incorporation. 1934-48, 1974, 1979
Butter Rationing Reports and Correspondence. 1943-45
By-Laws of Cass-Clay Creamery
Calendars. 1968-74
Capital Stock Certificates. 1944
Cheese Plant Feasibility Study and Correspondence. 1973-76
Common Stockholders Lists. 1943-48, 1951-54, 1958
Dairy Products Reports Number 1. 1949-53
Grade A Milk Producers Lists. 1960
Histories and Background Material Regarding Cass-Clay Creamery
Mail Contracts with Moorhead State Teachers College. 1945-48
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Reports. 1935-59
Miscellaneous Trouble
Newspaper Clippings. 1962, 1975
New Customers from Solicitors. 1938
North Dakota Sales Tax Reports. 1937-59
Officer Lists. 1935-1983
Photographs - Board of Directors. undated
- Cass-Clay Creamery Exterior Photos. 1950s
- Fair Exhibit. undated
- Plant Operations
Proposed Cheese Plant Feasibility Study and Correspondence, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. 1973
Resolutions of the Board of Directors. 1935, 1937-38, 1940, 1942, 1948, 1953
Set-Aside Butter Reports. 1943-47
U.S. Dairy Product Report. 1949-53
U.S. Department of Agriculture Manufacturer’s Dry Milk Report. 1949-59
50th Anniversary Material. 1984
Accounts Payable Ledger
Equity Reserve Certificate Holders. 1939-43
Member Accounts. 1934-39
Members Accounts Preferred Stock. 1934-43
Employee Payroll Records. 1938-41
Member Accounts. 1937-43
Payroll Journal. 1941-43
Volumes 1-5 Payroll Record Ledger. 1943-46
Volume 6 Delivery Payroll Ledger. 1947
Volumes 7-10 Payroll Record Ledger. 1948-51
Volume 11 Delivery Payroll Ledger. 1951
Volumes 12-14 Payroll Record Ledger. 1955
Report of Audit. 1936-54
General Ledger. 1936-41
Report of Examinations and Statement Operations. 1935-36
Statement of Operations and Balance Sheets. 1942-57, 1963, 1966, 1969
Station Purchases, Alice and Casselton, North Dakota. 1956-57
Volumes 1-6 Cream and Egg Patrons Accounts. 1953-58
Volumes 7-13 Dividend Records. 1953-58
Volume 14 Scrapbook Containing Newspaper Clippings of Cass-Clay Creamery Advertisements. 1948-49
Photographs - Cass-Clay Ground Breaking Ceremony. June 30, 1955.
- Plant Equipment
Outside Box
Volumes 1-3 General Ledger 1935-49, 1955-58