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By the 1930’s Kelly Supply was established as a distributor for a variety of plumbing lines including coveted heavy industrial application lines. Still operating as a contractor, Kelly Supply distribution activities were largely captive to its own projects. One such contract included large scale construction of the sanitary sewer system in Grand Island, Nebraska.

The photo at top shows a hand-laid masonry piping system. It was intense labor, and you may notice the absence of all but the most rudimentary of tools. Despite the hard work, it's obvious that fun could still be had, if only long enough to take a photo:

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All fun aside, 1934 was not a good time, economically, for most people in Nebraska. This and other similar projects employed a lot of marginalized people and are at the roots of the Kelly Supply Christmas ham tradition. In the midst of the Great Depression, the Kelly Supply Company began a tradition of giving a ham to all of their employees, ensuring that everyone would enjoy a substantial holiday meal. We are proud to carry on that tradition to this day.

Photo by Locke Photo Service, October 1934.

(Read more in Part two)