NOTES ON CECIL COUNTY CANNING COMPANIES — A number of towns once had canneries, processing corn, peaches, tomatoes, and other products. Some of the largest were located in the northwestern part of Cecil County.
By the late 19th century, there were canneries in the Colora and Liberty Grove area. For example, the Cecil Whig reported in August 1899 that two canneries at Colora had started operating for the season and that Silver’s Cannery at Liberty Grove was also operating. For the 1902 season, a record year, R.L. Christie’s Cannery at Colora packed 10,000 cases while Chas B. Silver’s Cannery, Liberty Grove, packed 19,000 cases.
George Lidell took charge of the canning factory at Liberty Grove in 1903, expanding the factory there (Midland Journal, Aug. 15, 1903).
Elwood Balderston sold land to Harry P. Strasbaugh and William Silver in 1911 and a year later the Colora Canning Company was incorporated. In 1928 the property was transferred to Francis S. and William E. Silver. In 1944, canning companies in Colora merged, forming the Silver Canning Company.
With an abundant crop being harvested in late August 1932, the canneries of Cameron Brothers at Rising Sun, Colora Packing Company and J H Liddell at Colora and the Liddell Canner at Liberty Grove were running full time. They were packing corn and tomatoes (Midland Journal, Aug. 26, 1932)
An eagerly anticipated annual custom at the Silver Canning Company was the “Harvest Home Party.” On Oct. 5, 1946, the company hosted its 10th annual party at its “up-to-date and sanitary cannery” near Colora. The company served cigars, coffee, ice cream, and coca-cola and more than thirty cakes made by the ladies who worked at the plant. “Diddy” Nesbitt and his band opened the party, providing music and entertainment. When the party closed at midnight everyone agreed that it had been a memorable occasion and a fitting close to the company’s 36th consecutive season (Midland Journal, Oct. 25, 1946)
When harvest season rolled around in 1951, The Silver Canning Co. advertising for cannery labor and trucks. Corn handlers, huskers, cutters, filler operators, and husk and corn trucks were needed.
The Silver Cannery located about a half-mile south of Colora was partially destroyed by a fire on March 3, 1965, according to the Cecil Whig. About 125 firefighters and nine units from Rising Sun, Port Deposit, Perryville and Darlington worked to contain the blaze. The building was fully involved when the first engine arrived, according to Chief Courtley Carter of the Community Fire Company of Rising Sun. The newspaper reported that the structure had not been used as a cannery for about 10 years.
Canneries were once very important for Cecil County’s economy, purchasing the crops of local farmers and employing hundreds of people.
For additional Cecil County Canning photos see this album on Facebook.
For an article on the railroad line serving canneries in this part of the county, see our blog post — All’s Quiet on the Octoraro Branch.
Thank you for writing this. George Liddell was my great-great grandfather. I grew up with stories about Cecil and Harford counties and the canneries.
Thanks Luke for sharing this info.