Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 06:36:47 GMT Server: Apache/1.1.1 Content-type: text/html Content-length: 2890 Last-modified: Fri, 31 May 1996 05:31:10 GMT Imperial Holly: Our First One Hundred Fifty Years




In 1843, the Williams' sugar crop on Oakland Plantation and the crops of other nearby farms were large enough to justify building a commercial raw sugar mill. Field hands, equipped with large knives, cut the cane stalks which were loaded into horse-drawn wagons and carted to the mill. With their mill, the Williams' unknowingly established the site of the future Imperial Sugar Company.
In the 1890's, the ornate Hotel Imperial stood out imposingly in the center of New York's Herald Square. As a young college student, I.H. Kempner walked into this elegant hotel, the newest and most grand in New York's hotel and theatre area of the Gay Nineties. Upon leaving, young Kempner took with him a lasting impression - one which was to play an important role in the Imperial Sugar Company.
Before the turn of the century, Sugar Land had three hotels, a saloon and a commissary. At the time, Sugar Land was dubbed the "Hell Hole of the Brazos" because it had become a dump for vagrants, drifters, professional gamblers and deserters from Galveston ships.
By 1915, six structures including a general store, bakery, barber shop, general office, hotel and a saloon had been built in front of the Sugar Land refinery.
To keep the refinery operating throughout the year, boat loads of raw sugar were brought in from Cuba and the West Indies. The 300 pound burlap bags were unloaded at Galveston and shipped by rail to the Sugar Land refinery.
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