Thompson Malted Food Company

Livingston A Thompson established Thompson's Malted Food Company in Waukesha in 1910. The company produced malted food and candy, including a product called Hemo, made of milk, cocoa, and beef blood. These products were advertised as health foods, although also made into candy and chocolate.Thompson's Malted Milk Company ultimately went out of business, but remains a fondly remembered staple of Waukesha.

Born in Darlington, Wisconsin in 1893, Livingston A. Thompson moved to Milwaukee in 1896. He established Thompson's Malted Food Company in 1906, and then moved with his company to Waukesha in 1910. Located across the street from the Bethesda Spring, the factory amazed people with its modern construction and visitor-friendly design. A gallery in the building allowed visitors to view the workings of the factory and the process of creating malted food. One newspaper article claimed that the factory would be a location where locals would want to bring their out of town visitors to see.^[1]

Although now used in candy and milkshakes, producers originally advertised malt as a health food. Thompson's Malted Food Company emphasized this, marketing their products as nutritious for children. This emphasis on health benefitted from the oft-cited health benefits of the Waukesha water that was used to produce the malt. In addition, however, the company also capitalized on the fashionable aspect of malt, producing candy bars and chocolate milk. One of the products that they produced, called Hemo, consisted of milk, cocoa, and beef blood. One woman, Estelle Susan North Snider, remembered working the Hemo Chocolate Bar department, and recalled that the workers had to wear wooden shoes so that the Hemo wouldn't stick to the soles of their shoes.

Thompson's Malted Food Company employed a great number of people in the Waukesha area. The creation of the factory corresponded with the expansion of Waukesha industry, and the movement of a large number of people to the area to live and work. One man, Dan Soder, arrived in Waukesha from Greece and found work with Thompson's. He became a candy dipper, and eventually opened his own candy shop on Madison street. Another notable worker is Russell Oakes, who worked for Thompson's for a short period after moving to Waukesha. Advertisements in the Freeman also highlight the opportunity for employment given to women at the time. One ad reads "WANTED - Girl for general factory work. Apply Thompson's Malted Food Co."^[2]

Thompson's Malted Food Company thrived in the area until its merge with the Borden Company in 1928. Today, Thompson's is fondly remembered and remains a sweet part of Waukesha's history.

^[1]"Advance Apparent." The Waukesha Freeman (Waukesha) September 19th, 1912.

^[2] "Wanted - Female Help." The Waukesha Freeman (Waukesha) September 12th, 1923.

Bernhardt, Gene. "The Professor's Zany Hobby Has Grown Into a Job That Helped Put Waukesha on the Map." The Waukesha Freeman (Waukesha) September 11th, 1954.

Early Waukesha Manufacturing . Landmark. 1973. 12 - 13.

"L. A. Thompson Dies Today at 76." The Waukesha Freeman (Waukesha) November 29th, 1947.

Livingston A. Thompson, FamilySearch. Accessed August 10th, 2022. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LYB4-RLH.

Nolan, Libbie. Of Beets, Bottles and Hemo Bars and a Love Affair.... Landmark. 1985. 21 - 24.

Ritt, Lorayne. "Sweet Success: Thompson Malted Milk Co. Remembered Fondly." The Waukesha Freeman (Waukesha) May 30th, 1991. .

Spelius, Elaine. The Hellenic Emigration to Waukesha. Landmark. 2011. 1 - 11.