
Red River operated Westwood as a company town from 1912 to 1944 when it was sold to Fruit Growers Supply. One frequent recurring questions is regarding employee records. In 1945, Fruit Growers asked permission from Red River officials to destroy employee records. Red River approved the request. It should be noted Red River had a huge labor turnover. When Red River sold there was only handful employees who had worked there for twenty years. In the early 1920s, Red River lobbied for the Deer Creek route to become a highway since many perspective and former employees used that route. In 1934 the Deer Creek road became Highway 32.
It should be noted that the Minnesota Historical Society contains the T.B. Walker papers which has a large segment of Red River’s business records pertaining to Westwood.
Tim