Difference between revisions of "Mineral King Fruit Company"

From Packing Houses of Santa Clara County
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(8 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Infobox_Industry
 
{{Infobox_Industry
| primary_town=San Jose
+
| primary_town=Visalia, CA
 
| primary_industry=dried fruit grower and dryer
 
| primary_industry=dried fruit grower and dryer
 
}}
 
}}
  
The '''Mineral King Fruit Company''' was a California-based dried fruit grower and dryer, with headquarters in the Santa Clara valley, and orchards near Tulare and Visalia in the San Joaquin valley.    The company was founded by a set of San Jose orchardists.  In 1892, Fleming and others bought the 660 acre Richard Chatten range near Visalia, with intentions to immediately plant 200 acres of fruit trees.  This property adjoined the Jacobs fruit ranch already owned by the [[George A. Fleming Company]].  The new company (formed with George and Charles Fleming, W. L. Woodrow, T. Wood, T.W. Hobson, T.S. Whipple, E.B. Lewis, and C.J. Fleming) was incorporated as the [[Mineral King Fruit Company]].<ref>Mineral King Fruit Co. and A Large Orchard: [January 9, 1892 Pacific Rural Press].</ref>
+
The '''Mineral King Fruit Company''' was a California-based dried fruit grower and dryer, with headquarters in the Santa Clara valley, and orchards near Tulare and Visalia in the San Joaquin valley.    The company was founded by San Jose orchardists George and Charles Fleming.  In 1892, Fleming and others bought the 660 acre Richard Chatten ranch near Visalia, with intentions to immediately plant 200 acres of fruit trees<ref>Richard Chatten: in [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/biographies/c/chatten-richard.txt History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California].  Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1913.</ref>.  This property adjoined the Jacobs fruit ranch already owned by the [[George A Fleming Company]].  The new company (formed with George and Charles Fleming, W. L. Woodrow, T. Wood, T.W. Hobson, T.S. Whipple, E.B. Lewis, and C.J. Fleming) was incorporated as the Mineral King Fruit Company.<ref>Mineral King Fruit Co. and A Large Orchard: [January 9, 1892 Pacific Rural Press].</ref>
  
At one time, Mineral King had the largest packing plant in the world<ref>"The Sunsweet Story" mentions both the San Jose founders and the size of the packing house.</ref>   
+
At one time, Mineral King had the largest packing plant in the world<ref>"The Sunsweet Story" mentions both the San Jose founders and the size of the packing house.</ref>   
The company required a $7 per share assessment on shareholders in 1904<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=19040407&id=EVsiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7qMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4198,3973047  April 7, 1904 Evening News] </ref>.
+
The company required a $7 per share assessment on shareholders in 1904<ref>Notice of Assessment: [http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=19040407&id=EVsiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7qMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4198,3973047  April 7, 1904 Evening News] </ref>.
  
 
In 1913,  J. H. Henry was the president, with J. W. Macaulay secretary and manager.  At the time, the company owned 300 acres of prune orchards and drying plant, and produced 750 tons of prunes in the previous year.  At that time, Mineral King sold primarily through [[J. K. Armsby]], and packed at Armsby's Visalia plant<ref>
 
In 1913,  J. H. Henry was the president, with J. W. Macaulay secretary and manager.  At the time, the company owned 300 acres of prune orchards and drying plant, and produced 750 tons of prunes in the previous year.  At that time, Mineral King sold primarily through [[J. K. Armsby]], and packed at Armsby's Visalia plant<ref>
[http://books.google.com/books?id=bnlRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=%22Mineral+King+fruit+company%22&source=bl&ots=2l2C_q6MJF&sig=Gc6Wu8lD1_liiMJzCm0x7X8OP4Q&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xr6tT93qMYijiAK3yp3yAw&ved=0CG4Q6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22Mineral%20King%20fruit%20company%22&f=false 1913 California Fruit News]</ref>.
+
[http://books.google.com/books?id=bnlRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=%22Mineral+King+fruit+company%22&source=bl&ots=2l2C_q6MJF&sig=Gc6Wu8lD1_liiMJzCm0x7X8OP4Q&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xr6tT93qMYijiAK3yp3yAw&ved=0CG4Q6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22Mineral%20King%20fruit%20company%22&f=false September 16, 1913 California Fruit News]</ref>.
  
The company was also responsible for agricultural development around Visalia, and helped set up ditches and canals in the area.  The company also built a new concrete warehouse in the San Joaquin valley in 1917<ref>Sunsweet Story</ref>.
+
The company was also responsible for agricultural development around Visalia, and helped set up ditches and canals in the area.  The company also built a new concrete warehouse in the San Joaquin valley in 1917<ref>Robert Couchman, [http://www.amazon.com/The-Sunsweet-story-establishment-California/dp/B0006BQ3AO Sunsweet Story].  Sunsweet Growers, 1967.</ref>.
 +
 
 +
A 1898 lawsuit describes a bit of the activity in the packing house, and notes that a "Fleming" was operating the packing house at the time<ref>Peterson Bros. vs Mineral King Fruit Company, [https://casetext.com/case/peterson-bros-v-mineral-king-fruit-co#.VAXvBUvsbLQ 74 P. 162 (CAL. 1903)], decided October 16, 1903</ref>.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Latest revision as of 17:50, 27 January 2015

Summary
Main Location

Visalia, CA

The Mineral King Fruit Company was a California-based dried fruit grower and dryer, with headquarters in the Santa Clara valley, and orchards near Tulare and Visalia in the San Joaquin valley. The company was founded by San Jose orchardists George and Charles Fleming. In 1892, Fleming and others bought the 660 acre Richard Chatten ranch near Visalia, with intentions to immediately plant 200 acres of fruit trees[1]. This property adjoined the Jacobs fruit ranch already owned by the George A Fleming Company. The new company (formed with George and Charles Fleming, W. L. Woodrow, T. Wood, T.W. Hobson, T.S. Whipple, E.B. Lewis, and C.J. Fleming) was incorporated as the Mineral King Fruit Company.[2]

At one time, Mineral King had the largest packing plant in the world[3] The company required a $7 per share assessment on shareholders in 1904[4].

In 1913, J. H. Henry was the president, with J. W. Macaulay secretary and manager. At the time, the company owned 300 acres of prune orchards and drying plant, and produced 750 tons of prunes in the previous year. At that time, Mineral King sold primarily through J. K. Armsby, and packed at Armsby's Visalia plant[5].

The company was also responsible for agricultural development around Visalia, and helped set up ditches and canals in the area. The company also built a new concrete warehouse in the San Joaquin valley in 1917[6].

A 1898 lawsuit describes a bit of the activity in the packing house, and notes that a "Fleming" was operating the packing house at the time[7].

See Also

History of prunes in the Southern San Joaquin Valley[8].

Locations

Location Years Address Details
San Jose 1906 49 South First Street
Visalia 1891[9]

References

  1. Richard Chatten: in History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1913.
  2. Mineral King Fruit Co. and A Large Orchard: [January 9, 1892 Pacific Rural Press].
  3. "The Sunsweet Story" mentions both the San Jose founders and the size of the packing house.
  4. Notice of Assessment: April 7, 1904 Evening News
  5. September 16, 1913 California Fruit News
  6. Robert Couchman, Sunsweet Story. Sunsweet Growers, 1967.
  7. Peterson Bros. vs Mineral King Fruit Company, 74 P. 162 (CAL. 1903), decided October 16, 1903
  8. 1920 article
  9. Eugene E. Menefee, History of Tulare and King Counties, California.