Industry finds St. Marys

In 1912, three canning plants began operations in St. Marys. Davis and Brandon had a plant near Oak Grove cemetery specializing in the preservation of local shrimp, string beans and sweet potatoes. The Hardee Brothers canned shrimp at their plant on the waterfront, and Georgia Canners, Inc. canned prawns, shrimp, and vegetables on the North River. In 1917, a pogy processing plant was located on the east side of downtown. Pogy, an Atlantic fish, was cooked, pressed and the oil shipped in tank cars to Procter and Gamble for the manufacture of soap. Fish scrap was sent to Savannah and made into fertilizer.

Yulee, Florida · United States