Ever notice that much of the industry of Albert Lea is tucked away conveniently in industrial parks? That allows much of the rest of city to shine.

But it didn’t always used to be that way. Anyone who has lived in Albert Lea or surrounding cities for more than 11 years recalls the Farmland Foods slaughterhouse at Main Street and Garfield Avenue.

And if you read the Albert Lea Tribune on Monday, you were reminded of the coal-fired power plant that ceased operations on Broadway Avenue in downtown Albert Lea in 1933 and was demolished in 1950. Alliant Energy now is cleaning up the remaining ground contamination.

(By the way, kudos to Alliant Energy for cleaning up that highly visible location.)

The Farmland Foods plants — which in its heyday was owned by Wilson & Co. — was torn down a decade ago after a fire in 2001.

There were other factories in downtown Albert Lea at one time or another, from the American Gas Co. where City Hall now exists to the corset factory that used to be on the second floor of the Knutson Building. Brendon Brothers, the predecessor to the Wilson & Co. plant, was at Main Street and Newton Avenue. There was once a foundry on William Street. Trades Publishing was at Main Street and Washington Avenue.

Now companies such as Ventura Foods, Mrs. Gerry’s Kitchen, Cargill, Minnesota Corrugated Box, Daisy Blue Naturals, Church Offset Printing and so forth are in convenient locations, industrial parks. Albert Lea, as most who dwell here know, is a pioneer of the concept of industrial parks.

What a success that has been! Downtown and the arterial streets — with just a few industrial exceptions such as our good neighbor Streater on First Avenue — are left to sectors of retail, financial, medical, nonprofit, legal, clerical and the like.

What’s most amazing is that, unlike in some cities of the industrial Midwest, Albert Lea’s former downtown industries didn’t leave us with a dilapidated shell of the once-great factory (for good examples, visit Sterling, Ill). The citizens here wouldn’t stand for it and always have been able to transform the city for the better under the given circumstance.

Do you remember the changes? Help us recall how industrial locations changed in Albert Lea over the years. Send us a letter to the editor 500 words or less to letters@albertleatribune.com or by mail to 808 W. Front St., Albert Lea, MN 56007.