 STOUT POTATO CHIP FACTORY SOLD SATURDAY
One of Van Alstyne's fastest growing enterprises suspended business Saturday when the local Potato Chip factory operated by Mr. and Mrs. O.A. Stout was sold to J. Leon Cowart of Sherman. The business was moved to Sherman Saturday where Mr. Cowart will operate it. The Van Alstyne Potato Chip factory was begun back in the spring of 1929 in the kitchen of the Stout home after many Van Alstyne people had urged them to start the business so that the town could be supplied with the fresh variety every day. Mr. and Mrs. Stout used only 30 pounds of potatoes per day when they first started the business. After a short time, business increased and the factory had to be moved from the kitchen into a specially equipped building in the rear of the Stout home. Business increased from year to year until, at the time of sale, the factory was consuming a total of 500 pounds of potatoes per day. An increase of that was shown during the summer months. Mr. Stout used home grown potatoes by farmers in this vicinity as much as possible, especially during the summer months. Mrs. Stout and a colored man operated the factory, aided by Mr. Stout at night. The potato chips were sold exclusively by many grocery merchants in this area, including 6 counties, Collin, Grayon, Fannin, Montague, Cooke and parts of Dallas county. Dieticians in Sherman used the potato chips for their patients at the Sherman hospitals and greatly approved of them. The capacity of the factory is approximately 1,000 bags per day of one and one-half ounce in weight. With much regret by many local citizens, the factory comes to a close after 10 years of service to Van Alstyne and the surrounding communities. Van Alstyne History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |