Edenvale Fruit Company

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Summary
Business

Dried Fruit Packer
Main Location

Edenvale, CA
Active

1903 - 1917

The Edenvale Fruit Company was a dried fruit packer located eight miles south of San Jose in the hamlet of Edenvale.

The company was incorporated in 1903 by Mrs. M. H. Cheynoweth, E.A and J.O. Hayes, William P. and E.C. Lyon, and M.B. and C.L.Hayes[1]. The company built a brick packing house and warehouse at Edenvale[2][3]. William P. Lyon, founder in 1903 with Hayes Brothers, was the business manager for Mercury Publishing, indicating his ties with the Hayes's. Lyon became president of the company in 1911. The company operated fruit ranches as well as packing house [4]. in 1904. Lyon sold his orchards to Norman Church. The plant employed an engineer in 1908[5].

Just after World War I, the plant was sold to Sanitary Fruit Company [6], then to was probably sold to Richmond Chase around 1918.

The packing house was next to the Edenvale station, which had a passenger shelter, packing house, and a warehouse[7]. The building burned down in 1952.

Locations

Location Years Address Details
Edenvale 1903-1907 Saddlebrook Drive Rancho Santa Teresa Mobile Estates. Aerial photos seem to show packing house there.

References

  1. Edenvale Fruit Co. Legally Incorporated: April 29, 1903 San Jose Mercury.
  2. New Fruit Packing Company Organized: June 2, 1903 San Jose Mercury: Lyon: "We are building a packing house... somewhat more elaborate than we need for our own use."
  3. June 25, 1903 San Jose Evening News. "The brick walls of the Edenvale Packing company's establishment have been erected and the sidetrack of the warehouse has been completed." This is one of two plants being built in the season, according to the paper.
  4. Wisconsin alum magazine
  5. Young Mechanic Answers Call: September 8, 1908 San Jose Evening News. "The deceased was an engineer for the Edenvale Packing house and was also the inventor of a patent fruit packing machine."
  6. Obituary of William P. Lyon: November 14, 1931 San Jose Mercury Herald.
  7. Norman Holmes, Prune County Railroading. Shade Tree Books.