Griffin and Skelley

Summary

Business	Dried Fruit Packer and Canner
Active	1881-1916
Brands	Hawthorn (canned apricots), Griffin (raisins)
Aliases	Griffin and Seegar (1881-1895)

Griffin and Skelley was a dried fruit packer and canner, founded in 1881 and merged into Del Monte during its formation in 1916. Griffin and Skelley started packing oranges in Riverside, California, pioneered the dried fruit industry, and eventually moved into canning. Founders were Willard M. Griffin and a Mr. Seegar; E.R. Skelley joined the firm in 1894 managing the Riverside packing house, and became a partner in 1895 when Skelley retired and the Riverside plant closed.

Griffin and Skelley can label

Griffin and Skelley moved into San Jose some time before 1903 according to the June 25, 1903 San Jose Evening News: "Another packing house in the neighbrhood of the narrow gauge depot will be improved. Griffin and Skelley are building another story on their plant."

William Griffin died in 1913 and was replaced by his sons, Charles W. Sr. Griffin and Andrew G. Griffin. When Griffin and Skelley was merged into the new Del Monte company, both became directors.

Locations

Location	Years	Address	Details
Emeryville	1903		Article about new cannery in August 5, 1905 (unknown source)
Fresno	1900	???	(In San Francisco Call 1900 "list of delivery spots":http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1900-07-29/ed-1/seq-25.pdf for California Cured Fruit Association)
Morgan Hill	1906		???
Riverside	1884-1895		Orange packing house. Managed by E.R. Skelley 1884-1895.
San Francisco	1908	16 California Street
San Jose	1900, 1904, 1906, 1907	Cahill St. at San Fernando St.	(Pacific Wine had a site on the east side of Cahill in 1891). Manager was F. Fleming according to "1906 list of car owners":http://books.google.com/books?id=lYU0AQAAMAAJ
San Jose	1915	76 Bush Street	At corner of West San Fernando. (became Del Monte ) Dried fruit grading and packing.
Visalia	1900	???	(In San Francisco Call 1900 "list of delivery spots":http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1900-07-29/ed-1/seq-25.pdf for California Cured Fruit Association)