Security Warehouse and Cold Storage
| Business Details | |
|---|---|
| Primary Town | San Jose |
| Primary Business | Cold Storage Warehouse |
Summary
Locations
| Location | Years | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | 1920, 1950 | 350 North First Street | |
| San Jose | 1950 | 380 North Second Street |
Photos
Security Warehouse and Cold Storage John C. Gordon collection, San Jose State University Library
Details
Associated: Herbert Packing, Ainsley Packing, Richmond Chast, Pratt Low.
Founded 1920, stock to be bought by Herbert Packing Company, Richmond-Chase Company, [Pratt-Low Preserving Company], J.F. Pyle & Son, and J. C. Ainsley Packing.
E.E. Chase President, F.A. Wilder, Vice President, J. Q. Patton, secretary and manager.
First Street site was formerly the location of the Knox-Goodrich mansion; a 1915 Sanborn map shows house in exact middle of lot. House torn down in 1920.
, December 1919.
Frank Hoyt built the refrigerator plant for the warehouse.
Photo of workforce at First Street warehouse.
Site between Second and Third developed around 1925 according to history of house moved from that site
From the History of Santa Clara County: 1922 Security Warehouse and Cold Storage Company
The spacious mansion occupied first by Mrs. Sarah L. Knox-Goodrich and afterwards by Capt. C. H. Maddox and family on First Street, opposite the Southern Pacific depot, has been removed and now the grounds covering nearly an acre and extending from First to Second Streets, holds the large and costly concrete buildings of the Security Warehouse and Cold Storage Company. The improvements were started in the spring of 1920.
The enterprise is the result of a determination on the part of local business men who decided that the time had come when the Santa Clara Valley would support such a plant. They organized a $500,000 corporation, all local capital, secured the desired site and started operation. The building is of concrete, except a small portion of the roof over some dry storage rooms, and is the most modern in every particular that the directors could find in visits to like plants throughout the country. There are in reality four distinct buildings, each accessible to the other and separated by double fireproof doors. Floors are all of concrete as are the supports in all the main parts.
The location of the plant is ideal, facing both First and Second Streets, and adjoining the main line of the Southern Pacific. There are two side tracks at the railroad site with a storage capacity of twelve cars for either loading or unloading. The fourth side is a very wide drive for the use of teams and unloading auto trucks.
The building is 145x275 feet, of two-story and basement design, and is equipped with an elevator of great capacity for the purpose of getting goods to the upper story and to the basement, all goods being unloaded on the main floor, to which the platform from either drive or railroad give direct access. Also there is a driveway for trucks or teams leading onto this floor that full loads intended for storage above or below may be placed directly on the elevator without trucking.
There are three distin [sic] storage system being installed to care for the different classes of goods expected to be handled: Direct cool air for the care of fresh fruit; a brine storage system for egg-keeping; and a direct expansion of ammonia system for the freezing of fresh fruits and meats. By the latter means it is said fruit may be frozen and kept for a period of several years, coming out with all the appearance and taste as if freshly picked.
The fresh fruit storage will be invaluable to growers and canners of this valley in case of an abundance of fruit ripening at once or in case of railroad trouble in shipping, as it can be placed here and kept until conditions for its use are right.
The company is also installing an ice-making plant and already has contracted for a part of the capacity of the plant to local concerns. This plant will be equipped with the latest apparatus for purifying the water before it is frozen and for the sanitary handling of the product.
The whole plant has a capacity of about 10,000 tons of storage besides the room being given up to storage of heavy vehicles, such as autos, tractors, and the like, of which there are many already in the building. This latter space is easily convertible into the other varieties if it is found there is demand enough to warrant such an alteration. E. E. Chase is president of the company, and J. Q. Patton is secretary.