Part 4/11:
By 1903, the Douglases established the Cedar Rapids Starch Factory, a multifunctional plant producing cooking starch, laundry starch, corn syrup, animal feed, soap, and more. By 1914, it had become the world’s largest starch producer, processing 20,000 bushels of corn daily and employing over 650 workers. The factory became a vital hub for Cedar Rapids' economy, providing stable jobs for hundreds of families and a market for local farmers.