Just as happens today, in a community’s early days, many types of individuals play a role in pushing a city forward – public servants, health officials, educators, laborers, and community-minded folks of all kinds. Among these are the entrepreneurs, the industrialists, and business leaders who leveraged their available resources to employ thousands of locals and build growing companies that – in many cases – lived well beyond their years.

These kinds of organizations shape the direction of the lives of oftentimes thousands of families over multiple generations – through not only those they employ, but also through those they serve and contribute to in a myriad of ways throughout the community.

The businesses featured in these pages, as indicated with the Founding Stories icon, have been a part of this community for more than 50 years – which means they’ve operated in some capacity since at least 1972. You’ll see the year in which they launched clearly specified with each piece, starting with the earliest and flowing through to the more recent. With each feature, Volume One has partnered with the business to tell a glimpse of their founding story – where they’ve come from, and perhaps even where they’re going – and to celebrate their commitment to our community.

In some cases, these organizations have the same name and family of ownership as when they first began. In others, the name may live on but the ownership has changed hands, or the name or ownership may have evolved but the location or purpose has endured. But for them all, there’s a critical thread that leads you back to an earlier, and perhaps simpler time in Eau Claire.

Enjoy their local stories, their thriving spirits, and their enduring contributions.

View the list of founding stories »

PS: We’ll continue to share these Founding Stories online and through social media throughout the year, so if you have a business that would still like to take part, reach out to us at advertising@volumeone.org or call (715) 552-0457.