Los Gatos Cured Fruit Company
| Business |
Dried Fruit Packer |
|---|---|
| Main Location |
Los Gatos |
| Active |
1904-1931 |
| Brands |
Blue Seal[1] |
The Los Gatos Cured Fruit Company was a Los Gatos-based fruit dryer, incorporated in 1904 and surviving until 1931. The dryer was operated by Noah J. Rogers, who was exceptional in his insistence upon cleanliness. He had workers sweep his entire dry yard." [2] The dryer was at the northeast corner of Los Gatos-Almaden Road and Los Gatos Boulevard[3] Rogers also had orchards in the surrounding area; the "Corinthian Grocers" (employees of the San Francisco Grocery Company?) had a picnic at the orchard in 1922[4].
Rodger's house still exists on Los Gatos-Almaden Road as the current Basiuni home, well known for the agricultural machines in the front yard[5]. Noah Rogers was the son of Henry Rogers, vice-president of the Oakland Bank of Savings and pioneer banker of Oakland[6].
There are some other guesses for the location of the business.. A photo caption at the Los Gatos Public Library suggests the yard was on National Ave. [7]. Bruntz's History of San Jose shows a picture of the plant (pg 160), and declares it was on the corner of Almaden Road and Bascom, now replaced by a gas station. Bruntz also declares that "during World War II, soldiers were stationed here."
Locations
| Location | Years | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Gatos | 1907, 1912, 1922, 1931 | Los Gatos Blvd. at Los Gatos-Almaden Road. |
Photos
Photo of packing house building. Shows building, water tower, and boiler house. From History San Jose Photographic Collection. Building shows as three story, with loading dock on the uphill side. The caption notes the location was "corner Los Gatos and Almaden Road and San Jose Los Gatos Road", and also notes that the company packed "Blue Seal" prunes, apricots, and peaches.
Details
Near Los Gatos. Held patent #84016.
Incorporated December 28, 1904 with $25,000 in capital according to 1905 list of new coroporations [8]
Appears in 1907 list of agricultural producers Also dealer for J.B. Patterson's security ladder in 1919.
1890 San Jose City Directory lists Noah Rodgers as "farmer".
Mentioned in 1922 County History.
November 1922 Western Canner and Packer mentions" significant improvements" in time for 1923 season.
Disincorporated March 1931 according to legal notice in March 20, 1931 San Jose Evening News.
References
- ↑ Caption, photo of Los Gatos Cured Fruit Company, 1914. History San Jose collection.
- ↑ Robert Couchman, "The Sunsweet Story", p. 42
- ↑ Richard Mors, Interview of Nolton Shore. Interview from May 25, 1990. In collection of Los Gatos Library. Shore and the interviewer both remember the packing house as cut off at an angle (to match the street) and also remember that Rodgers was crippled by the time they remembered him.
- ↑ "The Corinthian Grocer's Outing: Members of the San Francisco Grocery Company and Their Families Held Most Enjoyable Basket Picnic Among the Prunes Last Sunday". In September 1, 1922 Retail Grocer's Advocate.
- ↑ Photo, 16351 Los Gatos-Almaden Road. In collection of Los Gatos Library.
- ↑ Obituary for Henry Rogers, June 19, 1919 Oakland Tribune. "Henry Rogers, vice-president of the Qakland Bank of Savings and pioneer banker of Oakland, died at the ranch of his son. Noah Rogers, in Los Gatos, late yesterday after a lingering illness. He was more than 80 years old at the time of his death and has not been actively engaged in affairs of the bank for some time. Rogers is well known among California bankers. He has been connected wsjh the Oakland Bank of Savings for more than thirty years and before that time was Interested in various other banks of Central California. Arrangernents for the funeral have not been completed. He leaves a widow, who has been living at the family home at Hu9 Jackson street, besides the son, Noah, who owns the ranch at Los Gatos where he has been staying."
- ↑ "Hooked on Los Gatos" photo caption
- ↑ 1905 list of new corporations