Lomen Company
Encyclopedia
Lomen Company was an American
meatpacking industry, founded in 1914 by brothers Carl
and Alfred Lomen in the then Territory of Alaska.
herds, and between 1920–1929, they mounted a huge structure of slaughterhouse
s and processing facilities, still getting success with the crossbreeding of caribou and reindeer. Then they proceeded to dominate the export market of reindeer meat and skins for the United States
, making inviable the competition for the Inuit
small farmers. Between 1914 and 1929, Lomen has acquired 14,083 reindeers, at the total cost of US$ 236,156.00.
At Christmas
, 1926, in conjunction with Macy's
, Lomen developed a clever marketing campaign to publicize its main product: the reindeer. Santa Claus
in a sleigh pulled by reindeers, was introduced in several U.S. cities (including Boston
, San Francisco, Chicago
and Seattle, among others). The Lomen brothers still forged letters published in newspapers, where children asked for the presence of Santa and his reindeers in some cities. It was from there that the reindeer-drawn sleigh became one of the traditions associated with the American Christmas.
The Lomen Company, however, began to have trouble with the lobby of cattle
producers, who lobbied
Congress
to impose barriers to the promotion and sale of reindeer meat. Before that happened, in 1929, with the Crash of 29
, the market for Lomen's products began to decline. The final blow was given on September 1, 1937, when the Reindeer Act transferred the possession of all Alaskan reindeer herds to the Bureau of Indian Affairs
(and, therefore, for the hands of the Inuit), paying $3 or $4 per head. The Lomen's herds was then acquired by the U.S. government for the gross amount of US$ 720,000.00.
Only in 1997 a court decision allowed to non-natives to acquire reindeer herds in Alaska
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
meatpacking industry, founded in 1914 by brothers Carl
Carl J. Lomen
Carl Joys Lomen was an American entrepreneur and photographer. He was known as The Reindeer King of Alaska, because of his role in "organizing, promoting, marketing, and lobbying for the reindeer industry" in the first decades of the 20th century, as president of the Lomen Company.In 1954, he...
and Alfred Lomen in the then Territory of Alaska.
History
The Lomen brothers invested in the purchase of reindeerReindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
herds, and between 1920–1929, they mounted a huge structure of slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
s and processing facilities, still getting success with the crossbreeding of caribou and reindeer. Then they proceeded to dominate the export market of reindeer meat and skins for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, making inviable the competition for the Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
small farmers. Between 1914 and 1929, Lomen has acquired 14,083 reindeers, at the total cost of US$ 236,156.00.
At Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, 1926, in conjunction with Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, Lomen developed a clever marketing campaign to publicize its main product: the reindeer. Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
in a sleigh pulled by reindeers, was introduced in several U.S. cities (including Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, San Francisco, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Seattle, among others). The Lomen brothers still forged letters published in newspapers, where children asked for the presence of Santa and his reindeers in some cities. It was from there that the reindeer-drawn sleigh became one of the traditions associated with the American Christmas.
The Lomen Company, however, began to have trouble with the lobby of cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
producers, who lobbied
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
to impose barriers to the promotion and sale of reindeer meat. Before that happened, in 1929, with the Crash of 29
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
, the market for Lomen's products began to decline. The final blow was given on September 1, 1937, when the Reindeer Act transferred the possession of all Alaskan reindeer herds to the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
(and, therefore, for the hands of the Inuit), paying $3 or $4 per head. The Lomen's herds was then acquired by the U.S. government for the gross amount of US$ 720,000.00.
Only in 1997 a court decision allowed to non-natives to acquire reindeer herds in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
.