Carnation Condensery c1925 with employees
Monroe Historical Society photo #53

In 1908, the Monroe Commercial Club saw their chance to attract a milk condensing plant-the Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company, known as Carnation. They raised a cash fund of $6,000 to purchase a factory site, now the old Monroe Shopping Center, which was then donated to the company. Later that same year the Condensery was constructed from locally milled lumber. All that remains of the plant is the smokestack. The plant established Monroe as an important dairy center, and employed 50 to 100 people. Darius Kinsey, Seattle, photo #2500.