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1848 |
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Alonzo
Richmond arrives in Chicago from Syracuse, New York to proclaim
his new business: Richmond & Company, Agents for Onondaga
Salt. Read
more about The History of Morton Salt. Back
to Top |
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1849 |
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Gold is discovered in California, creating an endless demand for salt, a necessity for adventure-seekers moving west. Back
to Top |
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1871 |
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The Great Chicago Fire follows months of dry, hot weather. Fueled by the Michigan Pine that built the city, the fire destroys a 600-block area. During the rebuilding, salt demand continues. Back to Top |
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1889 |
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Joy Morton acquires a major interest in the company and renames it Joy Morton & Company. He is the son of J. Sterling Morton, a Nebraskan who served as secretary of agriculture under President Grover Cleveland. Back to Top |
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1910 |
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With several acquisitions under its belt, the firm is renamed the Morton Salt Company.
Back to Top |
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1911 |
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Morton starts adding magnesium carbonate (an anti-caking agent) to salt, creating a table salt that flows freely, even in humid weather. This additive has since been changed to calcium silicate. Back to Top |
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1914 |
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The
famous Morton Umbrella Girl and slogan, “When it rains,
it pours” first appear on the blue package of table
salt and in a series of Good Housekeeping magazine advertisements.
The slogan is adapted from an old proverb, “It never
rains but it pours.” Back
to Top |
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1922 |
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Joy Morton dedicates his farm in Lisle, Illinois, as the Morton Arboretum in memory of his father, J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day. The renowned Morton Arboretum has grown to over 1,700 acres of trees, flowers, shrubs and vines from all over the world. Back to Top |
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1924 |
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Morton develops iodized salt to help prevent goiters, which were common at the time. The Food and Drug Administration later requests that the product be labeled with the message, “This salt provides iodide, a necessary nutrient.” Back to Top |
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1951 |
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Morton Pellets, a high-quality salt product for the recharging of home water softeners, is introduced. Back to Top |
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1954 |
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Morton acquires the Canadian Salt Co. Ltd. and West India Chemicals, a solar salt operation in the Bahamas. Back to Top |
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1959 |
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Morton's
2000-foot Fairport, Ohio, salt mine is drilled. It is acclaimed
as the country's deepest and most modern salt mine at that
time. Morton and an industry neighbor donate an adjacant
410 acres of unspoiled marsh land for plant and wildlife
preservation. Back
to Top |
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1961 |
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Following in the Morton cultural and environmental tradition, Joy Morton’s only son, Sterling Morton, sets aside funds to build the Morton Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago before his death. Back to Top |
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1970 |
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Morton keeps up with consumer health and diet trends by introducing Morton® Salt Substitute. Back to Top |
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