Traveling Through Time With the Shelby County Historical Society
Feature Article on Monarch Machine. Topic: INDUSTRY & PEOPLE
Written by Rich Wallace in July, 1997

MONARCH MACHINE AND LOCAL COMMUNITY SHARED MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PARTNERSHIP

Original Monarch factory, built in 1909.

monarchmachinetooloriginalfactory.gif (59291 bytes)

The recent announcements about the future of Monarch have stirred much discussion about the company, its future, and the efforts of community leaders to keep the core of Monarch business in this city. It appears that the final chapter in the history of this once mighty enterprise is being written. Perhaps it is appropriate to pause now and consider the Monarch story at this time. It is as fine an example of a mutually beneficial relationship between a company and a community as there is. Success stories such as Monarch do not happen by accident. Commitment to a common purpose and sacrifice by all of the members of the 'Monarch family', as it was called for many decades, made it all possible. This is the story of the Monarch men and women, and what they were able to achieve.

The editor of the Sidney Journal thought enough of the story to give it front page coverage. "A New Factory Is Secured 'for Our City By The Untiring Efforts Of Our Leading Citizens," the headline in the June 25, 1909 edition read. Joining I. H. Thedieck, Sidney's leading retailer, in establishing the enterprise were many of the major players in the Sidney business community at the time: L. M. Studevant, A. C. Getz, A. J. Hess, J. O. Amos, E. J. Griffis and W. H. Wagner. The leadership and original idea came from Thedieck, however. As the Journal editor noted: "The credit for this new factory belongs to Mr. Thedieck who has had numerous offers from other cities but his desire to see Sidney grow larger and greater would not permit him to consider a deal from outsiders, hence the locating it here."

Monarch was to truly be a product of the community. Thedieck arranged for a driver and wagon to circle the courtsquare for the purpose of offering stock in the new venture to residents of the town. Within a few weeks, all the stock had been subscribed, and the company was ready to begin the challenges of an uncertain future.

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