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Encyclopedia Dubuque

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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.




GALENA GLOVE AND MITTEN COMPANY

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Photo courtesy: Robert Klauer.
Price tag. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Galena Glove and Mitten Company. Recognized by its "Yankee Doodle" trademark, Galena Glove was started as a small family-controlled company in 1910 by George T. MILLHOUSE. (1) The firm thrived in Galena,, Illinois for years selling twenty or more designs of its Yankee Doodle line to Midwestern farmers. The company's best seller was a two-thumbed glove used for husking corn. When one thumb of the glove wore through, the farmer could flip the glove to use the other thumb and continue working.

Envelope (Envelope front
Envelope back

The company opened a new plant on Garfield Avenue in 1920. The company moved into the building formerly used by the Dee Box factory. The workforce was expected to quickly grow to fifty. (2)

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding.

Demand for most gloves gradually declined. Agriculture became more mechanized and cheaper imported gloves claimed 42% of the United States market by 1982. At the same time, the familiar outlets for the gloves were being replaced by retail chains which demanded discounts the company could not afford.

Photo courtesy: Robert Klauer.

Financial improvement for the company came in 1969 with the involvement of William Millhouse, grandson of the firm's founder.

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On Monday, February 26, 1979, a U.S. federal trademark registration with a serial number of 73204966 was filed for a glove called "Yankee Doodle Dandy" by Galena Glove & Mitten Co.

By 1983, the company with a healthy balance sheet, an experienced workforce, and a quality product had acquired an estimated 600 new retail accounts. The firm restored its five-day workweek and introduced a new line of gloves. In 1986, the "Galena Gardener," a light-weight ladies' deerskin glove for lawn and garden work, was introduced.

Sold by the Roshek Brothers at five pairs for $1.00. Photo courtesy: Joe Jacobsmeier

The 1939 Dubuque Classified Business Directory through 1989 Dubuque City Directory listed 430 Garfield Avenue.

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Source:

1. "Head of Galena Glove Company Dies Suddenly," Telegraph-Herald, December 16, 1932, p. 2

2. "Galena Glove Company Opens New Plant," Telegraph-Herald, April 13, 1921, p. 3

Directory of Dubuque Industries. Prepared by the Dubuque Industrial Bureau, 1967