The Cannery Lady

In the early nineteenth century, many canneries operated throughout California, and the rich agricultural and fishing areas of east Contra Costa County included a number of canneries and packing sheds. Antioch's waterfront had two canneries and one packing shed: Hickmott Canning Company, also known as Hickmott Foods, stood on the river on the east side of town, Western California Canners, later known as Tullie Lewis Foods, occupied the waterfront on the west side, and between them beside the railroad was the Sante Fe Packing Shed, where asparagus was packed and shipped nationwide by the Sante Fe Railroad. The community of Pittsburgh was home to fish canneries, most notably F.E. Booth Canning Company, which was also established in Monterey, California. Cannery workers were primarily women seeking seasonal employment, and their work formed an important part of the history of East County's canneries and communities.

Antioch, California · United States