Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19
AMERICAS CELERY CITY.
HOW SMELLAGE BROUGHT FAM TO
KALAMAZOO.
An Industry Worth Millions-Story of
Its Origin In the Garden of a
HOllander-Present Magni-
tude of the Trade.

Writing to the Buffalo Express a Kali
amazoo, Mich, correspondent says: All
the markets and groceries are now dis
playing appetizing punches of a pale green
and white table delicacy called celery.
No table is complete without a few stalks
OF 1t. 1t is served daily in all the leading
hotels and cafes Of the United States
To the handsome city of Kalamazoo,
Mich, belongs the honor of making smell
lage a popular table relish under the name
OF celery. Celery, in turn, has made that
city famous as the celery gardens of the
world: in fact, Kalamazoo is now called
the Celery City. This city. with it's queer
indian name. was for years made the
target of funny stories and minstrel songs.
Situated on the banks of the river Of the
same name, the city extends back on the
hills. and Is acknowledged to be one of
the handsomest cities OF its size in the
United States. The railroads enter Kala-
mazoo along the river bottoms. which ex-
tend for miles and are the most fertile
lands north Of the Ohio river. The soil
is rich muck, and is from two to eight
feet deep.
A stranger entering the city by rail can
distinguish the peculiar odor of celery
During. the growing season it is a pretty
scene. long rows of bright green against
a black background. Not a weed or brush
is to be seen. Bill Nye said it reminded
him of an Irish woman's black dress
trimmed with green braid.
Origin of the Industry.
Celery as a table delicacy came into
existence in this way. Among the early
settlers locating in Kalamazoo was a fam
lily direct from Holland, named Blyker.
Dem Blyker was its head. and his father
had accumulated q fortune in the East
India Company. Other families followed
and prospered. and finally quite a col
ony came over of the poorer class. At
this time the flats or river bottoms were
considered almost worthless lands. but
were preferred by the Holland emigrants.
side. and soon the land near the city was
p%arceled and ditched into small plats, like
the lowlands of the Netherlands. 1t was
just like home for them, except here they
soon could own their own farm. At first
onions and cabbage We're raised and
shipped out to other cities. In 1878 4 gar
dener named. Van Haafcen raised some
rich muck bottoms that he had to draw
the dirt up against II to keep ii standing.
In the fall. when taken out. 1t was found
palatable. A sample box was sent to 4
Louisville hotel, which bought his onions,
for trial as 4 table relish. The ~instruc-
tons Were to eat it as you would rad
ishes. with salt, and it was called Kala-
mazoo celery. instead of smellage. The
new relish met with favor at once. and
Van Haaften received orders for the rest
of his crop and orders for the next year.
Onions We're that year an over-production.
while the Kalamazoo celery sold for Is
cents a dozen stalks.
TIL next year the Van Haaften family
planted their ground to celery and mada
a great deal OF money. In fact. they paid
for their land and bought more from their
first years sales. The year following the
whole Holland population on the fats be-
gan to plant celery. Every leading hotel
in the United States was ordering celery,
and land that had sold for $40 to $50 an
acre increased tenfold.
DeycIODment of the Trade
Glen D.. Stuart. a young business man,
formerly from New York. saw the posi-
bilities in celery. and began business as Il
celery shipper. and soon had an immense
trade. He was q clever man. and bought
whole gardens and advanced money to
new gardeners. In less than five years he
was known as the Celery King. and did
5000 worth of business shipping celery
during the year.
In those days celery brought a good
price. and every available foot of low
that over 4.~0 Hollanders are actively en-
gagged in celery culture. and about 5000
acres of the river bottoms are devoted
to celery gardens. A million and a naIf
of money is paid TO the growers of kala-
mazoo valley each year for their celery
crop.
This celery industry has developed 9TH
ers. such as box factories. printing offices.
celery medicine companies and numerous
concerns making celery tea. celery gum.
celery cough drops; Gsiery hitters; celery
cry salt. celery soups and a score of other
preparations.
All the trunk lines of railroads cater
to the celery trade. and run special re-
frigerator cars to all the distant cities.
From the middle of July until after Christ
the atmosphere OF Kalamazoo has 4
decided celery flavor. There is a contin-
ual stream of wagons delivering their
product to the express companies from
S a. m. until 1 p. IN. The crop of 1S9. is
estimated at 10000 GO dozen punches. and
will bring the growers about 8 cents per