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Fairmont Creamery (Moorhead, Minnesota)

The Fairmont Creamery building located in Moorhead, MN was constructed in 1923 for its proximity to the railroad and opened soon after in 1924. :37 The local Fairmont was important to the community through its use of cream checks, checks distributed to farmers who sold their cream, and also its food production for the government during World War 2. In 1947, the Fairmont Creamery Company rebranded to "Fairmont Foods" as they broadened their range from mostly milk-based products. :392 In 1980, the Moorhead Fairmont Foods was sold to Cass-Clay Creamery, and the next year, it was closed. Shortly after, Anderson-Jordhal turned it into a senior living facility. :5 In 1987, the Bethany Retirement Living purchased the Fairmont building re-selling to Eventide in 1994. Currently, the building is still owned by Eventide and is known as the "Eventide Fairmont."

Fairmont Creamery / Fairmont Foods
In 1924, this location was opened in Moorhead right next to the railroad. The Fairmont Creamery Company had been around since 1884 with its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska with locations stretching across the United States. The Moorhead location was unique from other locations for its experimental farm. On this farm, there were Guernsey cows which were experimented upon with extremely well maintained records. Also, there were turkeys experimented on in which were fed flaked buttermilk. As these turkeys extremely outstanding, the best local flocks can still trace their ancestry back to these Fairmont turkeys. :37

Beyond the experimental farm, the Fairmont Creamery had local significance as well.

During World War 2, the Moorhead Fairmont was contracted by the government to make food products including eggs, poultry, and dried eggs. In 1943, the location was rewarded an Army-Navy "E" Award for its outstanding contribution. This was a moment of great pride for the community as the government recognized the work of Moorhead, as such, there was a celebration for the Fairmont. Shortly after, the Fairmont Creamery Company changed their name to "Fairmont Foods" to reflect the newly broadened inventory.

In 1980, Fairmont Foods Co. decided to merge with a subsidiary of another business, the American Financial Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio. In turn, all Fairmont Foods locations either were sold or closed completely. :392

Senior Living Facility
Cass-Clay sold the building to Anderson-Jordhal Development in 1981, almost immediately after purchasing it. On December 29, 1982, Anderson-Jordhal succesfully added Fairmont to the National Register of Historic Places for tax purposes. :5 Soon after, the company started remodeling the building to turn it into a senior living facility. :5

In 1987, the building was purchased by Bethany Retirement Living. They kept the building until 1994, when they sold it to Eventide: Senior Living Communities. Eventide remodeled areas of the Fairmont over the next year including the front and rear entrances, lobby, lounge, and creating a storage shed. Eventide kept the "Fairmont Creamery" writing located on the exterior and even referred to the specific location as the "Eventide Fairmont."

As of July 7, 2021, Eventide announced that they planned to move all residents. While Eventide had already planned on closing this retirement home, the process was expedited by significant water damage from a pipe leak. Eventide announced that they plan to sell the building with hopes of preserving the historical aspects that remain.