Issue #30 (Aug 1, 1959) Ida Edwards Celebrates 15 Years at Nissen's

Another month of high activity at the Nissen Trampoline Company!

This includes one employee hits a landmark anniversary with the company, dozens of new employees being hired just to keep up with the sales volume and...the 1959 Pan American Games is in Chicago.

Ida Edwards
Can it be true that by 1959 she already spent fifteen years working for George Nissen? Amazing! Ida's job was to sew trampoline beds. First, at Nissen's initial location which was in a rented space behind the Chevrolet dealership on First Avenue, S.E., then moving to the 1324 Ellis Blvd, S.W. location and now at the 805 A. Ave., S.W. factory.

There is a nice write-up on Ida as well back in the Feb. 1, 1958 newsletter
use this easy LINK to jump there now. 

Let's meet the brand new Nissen employees who will be making trampolines!

 Now for a page of employee gossip & news.

But first, do note the photo at the bottom of the page where my father George Nissen is standing next to Olympic athlete Bob Richards.
Richards not only won gold medals in the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics - -  but just last year in 1958, he was the very first athlete to be featured on the front of a box of Wheaties!

In addition to the opportunity of meeting Bob Richards, I'm sure that my father was also smiling in pride because his new line of gymnastics apparatus "NISSEN GYMPORT," was used during the entire men's and women's competition at the Pan American Games.

The American men won the team title by a large margin as well as captured the first six places in the individual and all-around competition. 

The women's overall competition was dominated by both the U.S.A. and Canadian teams, with Canada's Ernestine Russel winning the beam, uneven bars, vault and All-around events.

Do these newsletters spark a memory? You are invited to share your own stories and comments below.

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"Nissen's - - a great place to work!"