Walnut Creek Canning Company
| Business |
Cannery |
|---|---|
| Main Location |
Walnut Creek |
The Walnut Creek Canning Company was a Walnut Creek-based canner started in 1921 by the Kirsten Packing Company[1].
R. Enea was the superintendent in 1920[2].
They canned a variety of crops; a July 3, 1920 "The Canner" included a report that they had canned 150 tons of cherries that season, and would be continuing with other fruits and vegetables. Kirsten used Whiting and Company as their broker[3]
Kirsten and Company hit hard times in 1922, with financial problems beginning after the death of the owner[4]. The Walnut Creek cannery was operated by Helmond and Franke in the 1924 season[5].
Walnut Creek Canning apparently existed into the 1950's; a 1959 Central Contra Costa Sanitary District meeting included questions from "Mr. Davis of the Walnut Creek Canning Company". 1948 meeting notes suggest the company was along Lacassie Ave.[6].
Owned by the Davis Canning Company according to a December 13, 1955 article in the Modesto Bee, noting that Hamilton C. Davis owned both Davis Canning in Atwater and the Walnut Creek Canning Company in Walnut Creek, and was in the process of buying the Patterson Products cannery in Patterson. A January 11, 1953 Oakland Tribune article noted that Mr. Davis lived in Piedmont.
Locations
| Location | Years | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Creek | 1920 | California Blvd. at Lacassie Ave.[7] | Probably along Sacramento Northern railway because of catenary wires visible in plant photo. |
Photos
Contra Costa Historical Society has several photos online: interior, office, loading dock, and railroad tracks in 1920, and plant photo.
References
- ↑ Here and There in the Fruit Business: Walnut Creek to Aid Canning Plant: March 5, 1921 Pacific Rural Press.
- ↑ Advertisement, October 1920 Contra Costa Farm Bureau Monthly.
- ↑ Cannery News 1921 Canning Age magazine.
- ↑ June 17, 1922 California Fruit News
- ↑ Cannery News: March 1923 Western Canner and Packer.
- ↑ Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, April 22 1948 meeting notes. "The Locust lateral to be extended to Lacassie Ave. with the consideration of crossing Main Street at Lacassie Street rather than Ygnacio Street to eliminate the Ygnacio traffic problem.".
- ↑ Grace Eliza Herrier: George Winterton & Grace McNiff Family History. " They came out to the Walnut Creek area and found a house to buy at 2337 Buena Vista Avenue. Charles worked for various plumbing companies in the area. Grace started work at the Walnut Creek Canning Company where the Target store is now located.".