RIO is a leader in the Bean Market

In 1906, the Badger Blade published in Rio, reported that Kennedy Scott of Rio was in Portage on business and was interviewed by the Portage Register. He reported that Rio is one of the primary bean markets in the great state of Wisconsin. His firm of Berg, Hall and Scott has so far shipped 25 railroad cars of handpicked beans and the Caldwell Bros. have shipped the same. These beans are all grown within a radius of ten miles around Rio, coming from Lowville, Otsego and Hampden. Many farmers raise 30 to 40 acres and W.A. Hall raised 70 acres of Boston's favorite delicacy.

The beans are shipped everywhere, but mostly to Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, with Chicago the central market. Farmers get from 20-40 dollars an acre and make a good profit. Berg, Hall and Scott employ about 20 women all winter to handpick the beans. The beans are planted in early May and harvested in September. The vines are cut about 2 inches under the ground with a special machine and are left to dry for at least 24 hours and then gathered into big stacks. Next is the steam bean thrasher and there are about 8 of them in the area. This crop was introduced in Columbia County by F.H. Green of Leeds; about 1880 and since 1900 it has grown to over 50 railroad cars shipped out of Rio.

This was previously the Caldwell Gates Bean Warehouse.  Workers running the bean sorting machines.

Submitted by Darlene Lerum