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Heritage Home /  Heritage /  The Morton Salt Timeline
 
1840's              1870's              1880's              1910's              1920's              1950's              1960's              1970's              1980's              1990's              2000's
 

 
1848 Chicago Alonzo Richmond arrives in Chicago from Syracuse, New York to proclaim his new business: Richmond & Company, Agents for Onondaga Salt. Read more about The History of Morton Salt.  Back to Top
1849 Gold is discovered Gold is discovered in California, creating an endless demand for salt, a necessity for adventure-seekers moving west.  Back to Top
1871   Great Chicago Fire   The Great Chicago Fire follows months of dry, hot weather. Fueled by the Michigan Pine that built the city, the fire destroys a 600-block area. During the rebuilding, salt demand continues. Back to Top
1889   Joy Morton   Joy Morton acquires a major interest in the company and renames it Joy Morton & Company. He is the son of J. Sterling Morton, a Nebraskan who served as secretary of agriculture under President Grover Cleveland.  Back to Top
1910   Morton Salt Company   With several acquisitions under its belt, the firm is renamed the Morton Salt Company.  Back to  Top
1911   table salt   Morton starts adding magnesium carbonate (an anti-caking agent) to salt, creating a table salt that flows freely, even in humid weather. This additive has since been changed to calcium silicate.  Back to Top
1914   Morton Umbrella Girl   The famous Morton Umbrella Girl and slogan, “When it rains it pours” first appear on the blue package of table salt and in a series of Good Housekeeping magazine advertisements. The slogan is adapted from an old proverb, “It never rains but it pours.”  Back to Top
 

 
1922 Morton Arboretum Joy Morton dedicates his farm in Lisle, Illinois, as the Morton Arboretum in memory of his father, J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day. The renowned Morton Arboretum has grown to over 1,700 acres of trees, flowers, shrubs and vines from all over the world.  Back to Top
1924 iodized salt Morton develops iodized salt to help prevent goiters, which were common at the time. The Food and Drug Administration later requests that the product be labeled with the message, “This salt provides iodide, a necessary nutrient.” Back to Top
1951   Morton Pellets   Morton Pellets, a high-quality salt product for the recharging of home water softeners, is introduced.  Back to Top
1954   Salt mining   Morton acquires the Canadian Salt Co. Ltd. and West India Chemicals, a solar salt operation in the Bahamas.  Back to Top
1959   unspoiled marsh land for plant and wildlife preservation   Morton's 2000-foot Fairport, Ohio, salt mine is drilled. It is acclaimed as the country's deepest and most modern salt mine at that time. Morton and an industry neighbor donate an adjacant 410 acres of unspoiled marsh land for plant and wildlife preservation.  Back to Top
1961   Morton Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago   Following in the Morton cultural and environmental tradition, Joy Morton’s only son, Sterling Morton, sets aside funds to build the Morton Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago before his death.  Back to Top
1970   Morton® Salt Substitute   Morton keeps up with consumer health and diet trends by introducing Morton® Salt Substitute.  Back to Top
 

 
1973 Morton® Lite Salt™ Mixture Morton continues its commitment to health and diet trends by introducing Morton® Lite Salt™ Mixture.  Back to Top
1973 Nature’s Seasons® Seasoning Blend Morton introduces Nature’s Seasons® Seasoning Blend, a unique blend of salt, pepper and other natural spices.  Back to Top
1984   Morton System Saver®   Morton System Saver® salt formula is put on the national market. Added to Morton Pellets, the System Saver product helps improve tank cleanliness by preventing water-deposit buildup. Back to Top
1984   Nature Conservancy   Morton deeds 1,200 acres of Salt Lake wetlands in Utah to the Nature Conservancy. Back to Top
1984   Henry Crown Space Center and Omnimax Theater at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry   Morton pledges $1 million toward construction of Henry Crown Space Center and Omnimax Theater at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, a contribution that followed a substantial financial commitment to the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.  Back to Top
1988
1995		   Mines Seleine rock salt mine in Quebec   Morton acquires the Mines Seleine rock salt mine in Quebec. The mine provides ice control salt for Quebec, the Atlantic provinces of Canada, and the eastern seaboard of the United States. Back to Top



Morton's Mines Seleine salt mine in Quebec, Canada floods. The company works with government officials to assess the damage and begins repairing the shaft. Back to Top
 

 
1998 Morton Salt Morton celebrates its 150th Anniversary of producing quality salt products. Back to Top
1999 Rohm and Haas Company Morton is acquired by the Philadelphia-based specialty chemical company Rohm and Haas Company, Inc.  Back to Top
2002   Morton™ System Saver™ Water Softeners   Morton™ System Saver™ Water Softeners are introduced. The first softeners to wear the Morton name offer the latest in water softener technology.  Back to Top
2004   Sea Salt,   Morton introduces Sea Salt, a high-quality salt harvested from the Mediterranean Sea on Spain's Costa Blanca.  Back to Top
2005   System Saver® II Pellets   Morton introduces System Saver® II Pellets, a water softening product specially formulated to consistently outperform other water softening salts in all water softeners  Back to Top
2006   Morton Pool Salt   Morton introduces Pool Salt, a superior alternative to hazardous chemical chlorine. Back to Top
             
2007   Morton Salt Balance™ Salt Blend   Morton Introduces Salt Balance® Salt Blend a reduced sodium product that delivers 100% salt taste with 25% less sodium. Back to Top
         
2008  
Season All
   Morton completes acquisition of the Season-All® brand seasoned salt line from McCormick & Company. Back to Top
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