Difference between revisions of "Castle Brothers"
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| primary_town = San Francisco | | primary_town = San Francisco | ||
| primary_dates = < 1893-1918 | | primary_dates = < 1893-1918 | ||
| + | | successors = [[Garcia and Maggini]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Castle Brothers''' was a San Francisco-based grocery wholesaler which turned into a significant dried fruit packer, operated by Albert N. Castle and Arthur H. Castle. In operation from the 1870's through 1918<ref>[http://www.foundryhistory.org/Sacramento_Directory_1872.pdf Grocers by that name in SP's directory of served industries, 1872]</ref>, Castle Brothers was one of the big independent packers at the turn of the century along with [[Guggenhime and Company]] and [[Rosenberg Brothers]]. Castle planned on a merger with [[Guggenhime and Company]], [[Rosenberg Brothers]], and [[Phoenix Packing]] in 1905, but Rosenberg reneged on the deal; later lawsuits claimed that [[Rosenberg Brothers]] used the merger as a ruse to gather competitive information<ref>October 6, 1905 San Francisco Call.</ref>. Castle Brothers | '''Castle Brothers''' was a San Francisco-based grocery wholesaler which turned into a significant dried fruit packer, operated by Albert N. Castle and Arthur H. Castle. In operation from the 1870's through 1918<ref>[http://www.foundryhistory.org/Sacramento_Directory_1872.pdf Grocers by that name in SP's directory of served industries, 1872]</ref>, Castle Brothers was one of the big independent packers at the turn of the century along with [[Guggenhime and Company]] and [[Rosenberg Brothers]]. Castle planned on a merger with [[Guggenhime and Company]], [[Rosenberg Brothers]], and [[Phoenix Packing]] in 1905, but Rosenberg reneged on the deal; later lawsuits claimed that [[Rosenberg Brothers]] used the merger as a ruse to gather competitive information<ref>October 6, 1905 San Francisco Call.</ref>. Castle Brothers | ||
| − | partially | + | partially owned [[Pacific Coast Seeded Raisin Company]] with Phoenix Packing in 1905. Castle Brothers also appeared in the news for selling fruit to Armour during the anti-trust case in 1919 along with [[Phoenix Packing]]<ref>Subcommitte on Agriculture and Forestry, United States Senate, [http://books.google.com/books?id=J5IpAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA933&ots=FxLUDUAnOM&dq=Producers%20warehouse%20company%20san%20jose&pg=PA929#v=onepage&q=Producers%20warehouse%20company%20san%20jose&f=false Hearings on Senate Resolution 211 against Swift & Co. et al.] Shows Castle Brothers sold raisins to Armour.</ref>. |
| − | + | William Francis Tooney worked for them between 1893 and 1895<ref> Prof. James Miller Guinn, [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/biographies2/bios2/toomey-william-francis.txt History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California], Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905. Biography of William Francis Tooney, p.1175.</ref>. George Rogers was general manager in 1901. | |
| − | The company retired from the dried fruit business in 1918<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=3WtRAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA7&ots=zm-u8q213y&dq=%22castle%20brothers%22%20fruit&pg=PA7#v=onepage&q=%22castle%20brothers%22%20fruit&f=false July 6, 1918 California Fruit News.]</ref>. Its brands carried on by Harry Hall and Company. | + | The company retired from the dried fruit business in 1918<ref>Harry Hall Starts Business As His Own Account: [http://books.google.com/books?id=3WtRAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA7&ots=zm-u8q213y&dq=%22castle%20brothers%22%20fruit&pg=PA7#v=onepage&q=%22castle%20brothers%22%20fruit&f=false July 6, 1918 California Fruit News.]</ref>. Its brands carried on by Harry Hall and Company. Rumors spread in 1921 about the company's return to the dried fruit business; these turned out to be corporate filings for clearing title to former Castle Brothers real estate<ref>Castle Brothers Not Returning to the Dried Fruit Business: [http://books.google.com/books?id=uG5RAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA3&ots=SVF_aEJP-S&dq=%22castle%20brothers%22%20fresno&pg=PA3#v=onepage&q=%22castle%20brothers%22%20fresno&f=false May 7, 1921 San Jose Evening News].</ref>. One citation notes that [[Garcia and Maggini]] had bought the Castle Brothers packing houses<ref>Garcia & Maggini Co. is Broadening Out: [http://veridian.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/illinois?a=d&d=CHP19191018.2.258 October 18, 1919 Chicago Packer</ref>. |
| + | As a wholesale grocer, Castle Brothers also handled other foodstuffs in their early days. A biography of Edward H. O'Brien of San Francisco cites his early work experience at the Castle Brothers coffee house<ref>Edward H. O'Brien: in John P. Young, [http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/bio7.htm Journalism in California: Pacific Coast and Exposition Biographies], Chronicle Publishing, 1915.</ref>. | ||
| + | |||
| + | A 1902 San Francisco phone book shows a coffee department, separate sales arms for Europe & Central America vs Australia and Asia<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscotele1902paci_1 1902 San Francisco phone book].</ref> | ||
==Castle Brothers in San Jose== | ==Castle Brothers in San Jose== | ||
| − | Castle Brothers had several plants in San Jose at various times, and suffered more than its fair share of fires. Their first plant was a brick warehouse on San Carlos Street near the South Pacific Coast railroad tracks. The warehouse was a brick building initially built as a grain warehouse, and owned by I.G. Knowles. That plant burned in 1899 along with the Zicovich Winery | + | Castle Brothers had several plants in San Jose at various times, and suffered more than its fair share of fires. Their first plant was a brick warehouse on San Carlos Street near the South Pacific Coast railroad tracks. The warehouse was a brick building initially built as a grain warehouse, and owned by I.G. Knowles. That plant burned in 1899 along with the [[Zicovich Winery]]<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=18990420&id=36EkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4qMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1775,4134430 along with Zicovich winery]</ref>Castle Brothers had another warehouse on Ryland Street near [[J. B. Inderrieden]] which also burned in 1899<ref>Prunes May Go Up: The Big Fire Complicates the Prunes Situation: [http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=18990801&id=WyYiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A6QFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1911,1035320 August 1, 1899]</ref>. That warehouse was corrugaged iron, 100 x 55, and was formerly a warehouse for [[E. B. Howard]]. The SP's car scale also burned in that fire. |
Castle Brothers next moved to Cinnabar and Montgomery Street. | Castle Brothers next moved to Cinnabar and Montgomery Street. | ||
| − | In 1903, it was the site of a nasty accident where an employee was badly injured by elevator while working at the plant<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=19031029&id=AisiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QaQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5541,4470265 October 29, 1903 San Jose Evening News]</ref>. The Cinnabar Street plant burned on October 19, 1913<ref> | + | In 1903, it was the site of a nasty accident where an employee was badly injured by elevator while working at the plant<ref>Crushed By Elevator: Employee of Castle Brothers Badly Injured: [http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=19031029&id=AisiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QaQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5541,4470265 October 29, 1903 San Jose Evening News]</ref>. The Cinnabar Street plant burned on October 19, 1913<ref>Two San Jose Packing Houses Burn: Loss Put At $175,000: [http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&cl=search&d=SFC19131020.2.40.3&srpos=2&e=-------en--20--1--txt-IN-%22castle+brothers%22----# October 20, 1913 San Francisco Call] </ref>. A new concrete plant started in 1914. Designed by William Binder and built by Z. O. Field, the building would be 110 feet square, and the "best equipped fireproof packing house in California."<ref>Castle Brothers Will Rebuild Packing House: [http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=19140508&id=AhEyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4OMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4266,5072307 May 8, 1914 San Jose Evening News]</ref>. That fire also burned the [[Haven and Company]] packing house; the fire chief believed the fires were intentionally set because the blaze started in so many different parts of the building<ref>October 21, 1913 San Jose Evening News</ref>. |
==Locations== | ==Locations== | ||
| Line 37: | Line 41: | ||
| San Jose || 1901-1930 || [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cinnabar%20Street%20at%20Montgomery,San%20Jose Cinnabar Street at Montgomery] || | | San Jose || 1901-1930 || [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cinnabar%20Street%20at%20Montgomery,San%20Jose Cinnabar Street at Montgomery] || | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Selma || 1905 || || | + | | Selma || 1905, 1916 || || Damaged in fire in 1916<ref>Twenty Years Ago: [http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/25773935/ April 15, 1936 Fresno Republican]. "A fire destroyed fifty tons ot peaches and did considerable damage at the Castle Brothers packing plant in Selma. The loss Is estimated at $3,000.</ref>. |
|- | |- | ||
| Visalia || 1900 || || (In San Francisco Call 1900 [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1900-07-29/ed-1/seq-25.pdf list of delivery spots] for California Cured Fruit Association) | | Visalia || 1900 || || (In San Francisco Call 1900 [http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1900-07-29/ed-1/seq-25.pdf list of delivery spots] for California Cured Fruit Association) | ||
| Line 54: | Line 58: | ||
[[Category:San Jose]] | [[Category:San Jose]] | ||
[[Category:Selma]] | [[Category:Selma]] | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Tulare County]] |
[[Category:Dried Fruit Packer]] | [[Category:Dried Fruit Packer]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:41, 1 September 2014
| Business |
Dried Fruit Packer |
|---|---|
| Main Location |
San Francisco |
| Active |
< 1893-1918 |
| Successors |
Garcia and Maggini |
Castle Brothers was a San Francisco-based grocery wholesaler which turned into a significant dried fruit packer, operated by Albert N. Castle and Arthur H. Castle. In operation from the 1870's through 1918[1], Castle Brothers was one of the big independent packers at the turn of the century along with Guggenhime and Company and Rosenberg Brothers. Castle planned on a merger with Guggenhime and Company, Rosenberg Brothers, and Phoenix Packing in 1905, but Rosenberg reneged on the deal; later lawsuits claimed that Rosenberg Brothers used the merger as a ruse to gather competitive information[2]. Castle Brothers partially owned Pacific Coast Seeded Raisin Company with Phoenix Packing in 1905. Castle Brothers also appeared in the news for selling fruit to Armour during the anti-trust case in 1919 along with Phoenix Packing[3].
William Francis Tooney worked for them between 1893 and 1895[4]. George Rogers was general manager in 1901.
The company retired from the dried fruit business in 1918[5]. Its brands carried on by Harry Hall and Company. Rumors spread in 1921 about the company's return to the dried fruit business; these turned out to be corporate filings for clearing title to former Castle Brothers real estate[6]. One citation notes that Garcia and Maggini had bought the Castle Brothers packing houses[7].
As a wholesale grocer, Castle Brothers also handled other foodstuffs in their early days. A biography of Edward H. O'Brien of San Francisco cites his early work experience at the Castle Brothers coffee house[8].
A 1902 San Francisco phone book shows a coffee department, separate sales arms for Europe & Central America vs Australia and Asia[9]
Castle Brothers in San Jose
Castle Brothers had several plants in San Jose at various times, and suffered more than its fair share of fires. Their first plant was a brick warehouse on San Carlos Street near the South Pacific Coast railroad tracks. The warehouse was a brick building initially built as a grain warehouse, and owned by I.G. Knowles. That plant burned in 1899 along with the Zicovich Winery[10]Castle Brothers had another warehouse on Ryland Street near J. B. Inderrieden which also burned in 1899[11]. That warehouse was corrugaged iron, 100 x 55, and was formerly a warehouse for E. B. Howard. The SP's car scale also burned in that fire.
Castle Brothers next moved to Cinnabar and Montgomery Street. In 1903, it was the site of a nasty accident where an employee was badly injured by elevator while working at the plant[12]. The Cinnabar Street plant burned on October 19, 1913[13]. A new concrete plant started in 1914. Designed by William Binder and built by Z. O. Field, the building would be 110 feet square, and the "best equipped fireproof packing house in California."[14]. That fire also burned the Haven and Company packing house; the fire chief believed the fires were intentionally set because the blaze started in so many different parts of the building[15].
Locations
| Location | Years | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | 1900 | (In San Francisco Call 1900 list of delivery spots for California Cured Fruit Association) | |
| Marysville | 1900 | (In San Francisco Call 1900 list of delivery spots for California Cured Fruit Association) | |
| Sacramento | 1900, 1905 | (In San Francisco Call 1900 list of delivery spots for California Cured Fruit Association) | |
| San Francisco | 1908 | 149 California Street | |
| San Jose | 1899 | 740 West San Carlos Street | Directory reads "West San Carlos at Narrow Gauge" - probably west side. |
| San Jose | 1900 | San Carlos at Race | City directory. |
| San Jose | 1901-1930 | Cinnabar Street at Montgomery | |
| Selma | 1905, 1916 | Damaged in fire in 1916[16]. | |
| Visalia | 1900 | (In San Francisco Call 1900 list of delivery spots for California Cured Fruit Association) |
References
- ↑ Grocers by that name in SP's directory of served industries, 1872
- ↑ October 6, 1905 San Francisco Call.
- ↑ Subcommitte on Agriculture and Forestry, United States Senate, Hearings on Senate Resolution 211 against Swift & Co. et al. Shows Castle Brothers sold raisins to Armour.
- ↑ Prof. James Miller Guinn, History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California, Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905. Biography of William Francis Tooney, p.1175.
- ↑ Harry Hall Starts Business As His Own Account: July 6, 1918 California Fruit News.
- ↑ Castle Brothers Not Returning to the Dried Fruit Business: May 7, 1921 San Jose Evening News.
- ↑ Garcia & Maggini Co. is Broadening Out: [http://veridian.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/illinois?a=d&d=CHP19191018.2.258 October 18, 1919 Chicago Packer
- ↑ Edward H. O'Brien: in John P. Young, Journalism in California: Pacific Coast and Exposition Biographies, Chronicle Publishing, 1915.
- ↑ 1902 San Francisco phone book.
- ↑ along with Zicovich winery
- ↑ Prunes May Go Up: The Big Fire Complicates the Prunes Situation: August 1, 1899
- ↑ Crushed By Elevator: Employee of Castle Brothers Badly Injured: October 29, 1903 San Jose Evening News
- ↑ Two San Jose Packing Houses Burn: Loss Put At $175,000: October 20, 1913 San Francisco Call
- ↑ Castle Brothers Will Rebuild Packing House: May 8, 1914 San Jose Evening News
- ↑ October 21, 1913 San Jose Evening News
- ↑ Twenty Years Ago: April 15, 1936 Fresno Republican. "A fire destroyed fifty tons ot peaches and did considerable damage at the Castle Brothers packing plant in Selma. The loss Is estimated at $3,000.