Lucas County Home Industry Shop
A group of ladies met at the home of Mrs. William Hutchinson on June 7, 1927 to organize a small business, the Lucas County Home Industry to sell their eggs, baked goods and small lunches. Those in attendance and the original members were: Mrs. Hutchinson, Mrs. Hahn, Mrs. Pittinger, Mrs. Mast, Mrs. M. Fisher, Mrs. G. Holliker, Mrs. Elliott, Mrs. C. Doblinger, Mrs. E. Holliker, Mrs. Wertz, Mrs. J. Fausz, and Mrs. Nagle. Each person paid $1.50 for membership. They decided to borrow $75 from the Farm Bureau for one year at the rate of 5%. This allowed them to get their roadside stand started, a small building made and put in place. The location of their food stand is unknown but most of these ladies lived in the vicinity of Dutch Road.
At later meetings the group was concerned about standardizing articles such as bread 1 ½ lb, size of pan, price for each items of goods; donuts 30 cents, sandwiches of chicken or ham 15 cents, cottage cheese 10 cents, pies 35 cents or a slice of pie 10 cents. They also bought material to make uniforms for themselves.
By July 27 the group decided to be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday through October as long as weather permitted with the monthly meetings held at the shop. Two ladies were to work each day. The commission for selling their goods in 1928 was 10% and each lady had a number to know who to pay and also to know if there were any complaints to whom to go back to. They also decided to enlarge the building and to advertise in the Waterville Times, Whitehouse Standard and Maumee Valley News. In July 1928 the receipts were a total of $206.99.
The shop had sold 374 dozen cookies, 1058 loaves of bread, 358 sweet rolls, 510 sandwiches, and 132 pies during the 1929 season. At the end of the year everyone was given a check for the amount they had earned. By September 1930 they decided they would not be open the next year. Those that were still members were Mrs. Harry Pittenger, Miss Alma Hutchinson, Mrs. Martin Fischer, Mrs Thomas Hahn, Mrs. Ernest Holliker, Mrs. William Hutchinson.
Note a copy of their minutes with names, amount of money made may be seen at the Wakeman Archival Center.