Courtesy photo
The Farm as it appeared in the 1950s.

It wasn’t until the ’60s that SR 522 was built and Woodinville began to grow.

Before 522, Woodinville wasn’t known for many things, but it was known for the Heisdorf and Nelson Farm.

In the early part of the last century, Mort Atkinson started the Hollywood Poultry farm on Hollywood Hill and went into business with Fred Stimson. Mort realized the value of selective breeding and purchased stock from England, Australia and New Zealand. When Mort died, the farm was sold to Art Heisdorf who had dreams similar to Atkinson’s. He was a young geneticist who dreamed of improving egg production of hens by using new methods of genetic principles. The resulting “Nick Chick” became well known.

He was truly a man ahead of his time. In 1952 he converted all his records to IBM Electronic System. In 1955, he recruited Dr. Don Zander, DVM, PhD, from the University of California to plan, build, staff and direct a diagnostic and research laboratory.

By 1955, he had won several of the Random Sample Test. (A national test of egg production by different strains.)

In 1947 Bert and Cliff Nelson (brothers) joined the company.

Courtesy photo
The Farm as it is today.

In 1952, Heisdorf bought out Nelsons’ interest and purchased the Hollywood Farm in Woodinville in 1953 when Woodinville was just a “wide spot” in the road.

However, the Farm lent this little town recognition. When you spoke of Woodinville, you spoke of Heisdorf and Nelson. Many locals remember working there.

Eventually all the stock was moved to a new farm near Yelm, and the Hollywood Farm was sold for residential development. The development retains the name, “The Farm.”

In 1971 Heisdorf & Nelson Company was sold to Pfizer Pharmaceutical firm, which was later resold and in 1987 became a wholly owned subsidiary of Lohman Co. AG of Cuxhaven, Germany, and in 1997 the breeding program was transferred to Cuxhaven from which Heisdorf and Nelson products are sold today.

In 2005, a 60-year anniversary was planned. However, due to the bird flu scare it was delayed until 2007. On June 11, the celebration dinner was held at the Holiday Inn in Renton.