J. W. Chilton Fruit Packing
| Business |
Dried Fruit Packer |
|---|---|
| Main Location |
San Jose, CA |
| Active |
1903 - 1922 |
Summary
San Jose-based dried fruit packer. J. W. Chilton had managed the Porter Brothers San Jose outpost on North First Street, but broke out on his own when Porter Brothers collapsed in 1903 Chilton's first plant was in the Santa Clara Valley Packing Company's building on the edge of Willow Glen, but he soon took over the former Porter Brothers plant.
Chilton sold his plant to Sunsweet in 1922, but was remembered in the community. Newspaper reports of a fire in 1936 remarked on a similar fire at "the old Chilton packing house, now a California Prune and Apricot Growers plant".
Locations
| Location | Years | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | 1903 | Paula St. between Northrup and Race. | Leased Santa Clara Valley Fruit Company's warehouse. After Porter Brothers collapsed, before he bought their plant? |
| San Jose | 1904, 1906, 1907 | 385 North First Street | |
| San Jose | 1915, 1917 | 405 North First Street |
Details
Started in 1903 from Porter Bros. Read article on Porter Brothers Plant for Sale, Sept 12 1903 San Jose Evening News "Packers and shippers of green and dried fruit." In 1907, James W. Chilton president, Giles B. Lumbard, treasurer.
Packing cherries in 1907 on First Street - ad in June 7, 1912 San Jose Evening News Chilton was local, lived on Bird Avenue in Willow Glen. In 1907, he lived at 556 North 3rd. In 1902, he was managing Porter Bros., and was living at 96 Fox av. John C. Chilton was a foreman at G. N. Herbert, and Robert L. was a foreman at Porter Bros.
J. W. Chilton supposedly ran for mayor of San Jose in 1912.
Became associated with California Prune and Apricot Growers in 1917, packer for 1917 season. In
July 21, 1917 San Jose Evening News List of Sunsweet collection stations Around in 1922, recorded as packing for "California Prune and Apricot Growers"http://www.sfgenealogy.com/santaclara/history/scchist12.htm
"1922 Western Canner and Packer":https://sites.google.com/a/google.com/xray/coverage-analysis explicitly says that Sunsweet bought the plant in 1922 for their "special carton trade."
Fire at ice plant in 1936 cites previous attempt to burn down "old Chilton packing house, now a CAlifornia Prune and Apricot Growers Association plant on North First Street near Bassett Street failed when employees discovered fires burning under the loading platforms."