03/01/2025
Here is a little back story to Mary and the Egg, that her family member put together for us to see!
Shortly before her 29 birthday Mary was working occasionally at and egg produce company in Forest City IA. The name could be several different, her brother-in law Walt Tanner SR remembers the name sort of like Forest City Produce and Poultry.
One of the ladies at Winnebago Historical Society Carles Whites (92) is checking the records to see if she can find a picture or other information about it. Other mentions of egg producing companies maybe in the 50’s are Thompsons and Freedman Eggs and supplies
Mary and 4 or 5 of the gals that worked there decided to all sign eggs with their name and town on them and send them off with the shipment, placing them all in different boxes that were going out. Mary does not remember all the names of the ladies who sent out eggs, except one of her sisters, Lois’s, friend Emma Compton (now know as Emma Mostrom living at Good Shepard Center in Mason City IA). Mary remembers names of a few others who worked there occasionally, but not sure if any of them had signed the eggs also. (Lois Foss, June Foss-both Mary’s sisters) Betty Everding, and Lois McCalla(not sure about the last name) .
The company would employ the young ladies when they had big shipments needing to go out, so there was not a constant crew working there. They all walked to work and brought their own lunches, although she remembers a small café close. Also, in town not far from the produce company was a lumber yard and across town was Bowens Market.
****NEW UPDATE**** 08/25/2023
KCCI-TV DID A NEWS SPOT ON US FINDING MARY, AND ALSO MENTIONED OUR GROUP!
I cannot post the link here, but you can Google; MARY FOSS IOWA EGG KCRG and it should show up. There is a video of Mary talking about the egg! Cheers! 🥚🐣🥚🐣🥚🐣🥚🐣🥚🐣🥚🐣🥚🐣
***NEW UPDATE!!***
GREAT NEWS!! KCCI-TV, in Des Moines, Iowa , will be doing a TV news story about us finding Miss Mary Foss (Starn) 😃🥰🥚🐣👏👏👏👏!!
I was interviewed by Zach Tecklenburg, the Assistant News Director just a bit ago! He will be reaching out to Mary via Zoom as well, on Thursday.
Yeay! Weird and Wonderful Secondhand Finds community! 👏👏👏 Thanks to you all, we found our Mystery Egg Girl! We love you Mary! 🐣❤️🐣🥚❤️🐣🥚❤️🥚🐣🥳🥳🥳
***UPDATE*** For all those following this story, the mysterious Miss Mary Foss has been found! It only took 72 years.. but ok! 🐣 🤣
Not being the most social media savvy guy, I was informed I should edit this original post so all can see!🫶❤️🥰🎊🥚🥚🥚 A special THANK YOU to some amazing folks here, for helping us locate Mary!
Megan Rock Nick Sheedy Amber Rochellé Robb Larissa Boeck Grace Reed
*****ORIGINAL POST BELOW*****
Here's something you don't see everyday. 👀 It's an egg, from 1951. (Egg is still inside, though petrified!)
It was given to me by an elderly gentleman friend, around 20 years ago. He had found it in a dozen eggs he purchased, in New York City, back in 1951.
It reads: Whoever finds this egg, please write me. Miss Mary Foss, Forest City Iowa. April 2, 1951.
I'm guessing a shout out from a young, Iowa egg farm worker, who dreamed of making exciting friends in far away cities.. 💞
Wonder if she might still be alive! Tried to locate her, but come up empty. 🥺
I keep the egg safe in a pretty, art deco, English, Egg cozy. 🥰 🥚
