Carnation Condensery c1915 with the two metal smokestacks
Monroe Historical Society photo #290

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 concrete smokestack, which was added in the 1920s. This photo shows the original 60-foot high metal smokestacks. One was built with the original plant and the second was added the following year. The plant established Monroe as an important dairy center, and employed 50 to 100 people.