The H.J. Heinz Company – the Saginaw Connection – Part 2
- kellison71
- 6 minutes ago
- 5 min read
“PITTSBURGH, Sept. 25—Mrs. Elizabeth Rust Heinz, widow of Howard Heinz, former president of the H. J. Heinz Company, died here this afternoon in her home. Her age was 71. She had been in ill health for some time. Her husband was president of the Heinz firm from 1919 until 1941 and her son, H. J. Heinz 2d, is now president of the company. The former Elizabeth Granger Rust of Saginaw, Mich., Mrs. Heinz was a member of the board of directors of the Pittsburgh Symphony Association and the women's association of the Pittsburgh Symphony Society and a member of the Ogontz Association of Pittsburgh. Besides her son, she leaves a brother, Amasa M. Rust of Saginaw, and a grandson, H. J. Heinz 3d. A second son, Rust Heinz, died in Pittsburgh in 1939.”
Last week, we explored the history of the H. J. Heinz Company plant in Saginaw – this is a link, just in case you missed it.
This week, we explore a much more personal connection to the H. J. Heinz Company: Elizabeth Granger Rust of Saginaw married Howard Heinz, son of the company’s founder, who would become the company’s president.
Elizabeth Granger Rust was the daughter of Louise Miller and Charles A. Rust. Born in Saginaw City on July 15, 1881, her family had prospered during Saginaw’s lumber boom and their home on North Michigan Avenue was a center of social activity. When she attended the Ogontz School in Philadelphia, the paper reported on her travels. Upon the completion of her studies and her return to Saginaw, the news documented her social activity, charitable work and involvement in the Saginaw Art Club. In 1904, the paper reported:
“The paper on ‘Naples and Neapolitans,’ given by Miss Rust gave many personal reminiscences of her travels in Italy, and the beautiful views with which her talk was illustrated helped to bring the scenes described before her audience. The paper was really a story abounding in legends, historical descriptions and interesting personal illusions, and was thoroughly enjoyable.” (The Saginaw Evening News, November 3, 1904.)
Her 1906 wedding to Howard Heinz was covered in great detail:
“Wednesday evening at 7 o’clock at St. John’s Episcopal church Miss Elizabeth Granger Rust of this city, became the bride of Howard Heinz, son of H.J. Heinz of Pittsburgh.
The church which had been artistically decorated for the occasion with Southern smilax, white dahlias and white gladiolus was filled to overflowing with Pittsburg, New York, Chicago, Cleveland and Saginaw friends. The walls of the church were completely covered with Southern smilax and the channel[sic] arch curtained with smilax and the channel[sic] lined with it. The chandeliers over the main aisle were hung with smilax and cornucopias filled with dahlias and gladiolus, These flowers were in profusion throughout the church and at regular intervals the heads of the pews were relieved by a large bunch tied with white ribbon. The altar was also filled with vases of dahlias and gladiolus which were placed in front of a double row of candles.”
After detailing the musical prelude, the article continues:
“At 7 o’clock sharp the notes of the Lohengrin wedding march were heard and the ushers, Amasa Rust, Clifford Heinz, William Cochran, Geo. Lyon, Matthew Mills and Charles Wilson followed the maid of honor, Miss Ella Kingsbury and the bride on the arm of her father passed down the central isle [sic] to the chancel steps where they were met by the groom and his best man, William Sloane Coffin** and the Rev. Emil Montanus, rector of St. John’s. The betrothal vows were then given after which the bridal party advanced to the altar rail and the office and benediction of the marriage was pronounced, the bride and groom kneeling at the altar to receive the benediction.
‘Oh Perfect Love,’ was softly rendered on the organ during the ceremony. The bride wore a handsome princess gown of Irish crocheted lace and tulle veil held with a cornet of orange blossoms and carried a large shower bouquet of white orchids.* Her only ornament was a magnificent sapphire broach surrounded by a cluster of diamonds, the gift of the [g]room.”
The article continues, noting:
“Brilliant Reception: Immediately after the ceremony a reception was given at the home of the bride’s grandmother, Mrs. Amasa Rust, 207 South Harrison street. Charles Rust, father of the bride, joined his mother in the invitations for the reception. The house which is a handsome one was artistically adorned for the occasion. Those present were members of the two families and immediate friends a great many being out of the city. The table at which the bridal party were seated was filled with magnificent silver and cut glass and flowers. The centerpiece which was a large basket of gladiolus was surrounded by baskets of lilies of the valley and each plate was a water lily filled with bon bons.… (The Saginaw Evening News, October 4, 1906.)
The article continues with the details of the seating arrangements, enumeration of their many gifts and plans for their European trips.
While Elizabeth Rust and Howard J. Heinz’s home was in Pittsburgh, they visited Saginaw on a regular basis and often summered at Higgins Lake with friends and family. At least once, Mr. Heinz combined an inspection of the “company’s Saginaw plant” with his social visit to Saginaw.
This link to Heinz: The Story of American Family from the American Archive of Public Broadcasting Archives includes a wedding portrait of Elizabeth Granger Rust Heinz and comments about their introduction at a weekend skating party in Pittsburgh.
The Castle Museum’s collection includes archival material and objects documenting the members of the Rust family, including photographs of Elizabeth Granger Rust
The Recipe – Onion Salad
From the Heinz Book of Salads, published in 1925.
3 Spanish Onions
½ cup water
½ cup Heinz Cider Vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt
Peel onions and slice very thin. Mix water, vinegar, sugar and salt put the onions in mixture. Let stand in covered dish in ice box for one hour.* Drain thoroughly and mix with Piquante Dressing (page 13). Serve on crisp lettuce and sprinkle with finely chopped parsley. Men think this an ideal ‘running mate’ for cold ham or beef.
Piquant Dressing
Foundation French Dressing (Just in case you used all the dressing you made last week):
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Sugar
¼ Teaspoon Paprika
3 Tablespoons Heinz Pure Vinegar
¾ Cup Heinz Pure Olive Oil
Mix the salt, sugar and paprika together. Add vinegar and oil and beat thoroughly, or put all of the ingredients into a glass jar, screw top on tightly and shake thoroughly.
To Foundation, add ½ teaspoon mustard, 1/8 teaspoon Heinz Worcestershire Sauce, ½ teaspoon onion juice and 2 drops Tabasco sauce. Mix thoroughly.
CTK NOTES:
While we cannot imagine this dish being served at the 1906 Rust\Heinz wedding reception, it is perfect for showcasing numerous Heinz products. We confess the CTK didn’t have a full range of Heinz products in stock and we resorted to other brands. Also, as we did not have onion juice in our pantry, we omitted it. We have a feeling it is not greatly missed in an onion salad.
We note that our onions should have been much thinner; however, the tears clouded our judgment.
*While you are waiting for your thinly sliced onions to marinate, this link will take you to a collection of information about Ogontz School. Elibeth Granger Rust was not the only young woman from Saginaw to attend this school.
**This appears to be the father of the noted minister of the Rev. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. Sloane Coffin Senior was a businessman involved in the household decorating and furnishing business.