Vigo County Historical Society

Terre Haute had connection with Campbell Soup Co.

"Mmmm, Mmmm Good," as the commercial for Campbell Soup says.

Soup has been the heart and soul of western civilization and some other countries of the world. In colder lands where winter is long and brutal, a bowl of hot soup warms your heart and nourishes your body and soul.

Soup brings back the loving memories of your mother, leaning over a huge pot of soup, stirring the nourishing broth, fresh vegetables, legumes, small chunks of meat of your choice, fresh herbs and spices, and grains like barley, rice or macaroni. The whole house is filled with aroma, and is enveloped with a sense of warmth, comfort, love and security.

But times changed, Mothers began working outside the home and did not have that needed time to prepare soups from scratch.

Help came along from soup manufacturing companies, most notably the Joseph Campbell Co. of Camden, N.J., which was incorporated in 1922. First it was a canning firm, established in 1869. It was one of the largest manufacturers of prepared foods like canned soups, spaghetti, blended juices, tomato juice, frozen foods, bakery goods and others.

The soup can with the familiar label appeared in 1898. It won the gold medallion at the Paris Exposition in 1900, which was incorporated later in the labels.

After World War II, the company began to diversify further, adding many other food products and fast-food chains. It branched out into several countries.

Strangely, Terre Haute had a connection with the Campbell Soup Co. At 2101 S. Third St., there was a Louden Packing Co., a canner for Standard Brands Inc., which was bought by Campbell’s Co. in 1945. V-8 Cocktail Juice was developed here, along with other tomato products. In the early 1950s, this packing company was destroyed by fire. Displayed in the "Hoosier Homemakers" exhibit is a Campbell Soup advertisement from the 1918 Ladies Home Journal. It’s a small world when a Campbell Soup ad from 1918 come full circle to Terre Haute as part of our 2001 exhibit.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Previous articles may be found on the society’s Web site at web.indstate.edu/community/vchs.