Hyde Cannery Historical Records

Here's a set of raw historical records on the Hyde Cannery: first, a set of newspaper and magazine articles about the cannery, and then an index of deed and other records at the County Recorder office.

Newspaper and Magazine Articles

Here's a set of newspaper and magazine stories on the Hyde Cannery (and related topics) from the Campbell Interurban Press and elsewhere. Apologies for the quality; these were photographed from microfilm at the Campbell library.

The August 1921 Canning Age had a long article on Hyde Cannery, with lots of details about conveyors and other mechanical marvels.

At some point in the early 1920's, the Hyde Cannery had some short-term financial problems that caused the creditors to get a bit concerned. My guess is this occurred in Spring 1922; Coykendall had resigned from the California Prune and Apricot Growers in May 1923, and Hyde had reported a great pack in October 1922. There also was a large crop coming from Bosnia in the summer of 1922 which flooded the East Coast.

Note that one of the creditors is a Yuba City orchardist "representing the interests of growers with whom the Hyde company has dealt for many years." This highlights that Hyde was getting fruit brought in from the Sacramento Valley, but also highlights the risks to the company as new packing plants and canneries opened in Yuba City and Marysville.

In October, 1922, George Hyde was quoted in Western Canner and Packer declaring how this year was the greatest pack in the company's history.

In late June, 1930, Sam Squibb declares that the Hyde Cannery will be operating this year. His comment about "I do this every year" suggests the cannery did run in 1929, though most news reports say 1928 was the last season.

A week later, in the July 1, 1930 Campbell Interurban Press, the board of directors declares the cannery will not be open for the 1930 season. The July 9, 1930 San Jose Evening News repeats the bad news.

The absence of the cannery left a big hole in Campbell; the August 19, 1930 Interurban Press reports that the Chamber of Commerce was pushing Sunsweet to use the space and hire locals.

The Higgins-Hyde Packing Company leases part of the property according to the August 4, 1932 Interurban PRess. Sunsweet supposedly used it for storage as well. Reports say that the canning equipment was long-gone.

The depression grinds on. In 1932, the Interurban is discontinued and replaced by a bus. In early 1933, Southern Pacific also discontinues the Campbell stop for the Santa Cruz passenger trains. Luckily, Campbell residents have cars to get around, and are driving enough to require a stop sign at Campbell Ave. and Winchester.

In 1933, the Campbell Packing Company forms and starts using the Hyde Cannery again as reported in the May 29, 1933 Interurban Press. The story is also repeated by the San Jose Evening News on April 22, 1933.

George Hyde dies on June 27, 1933; the obituary notes that he'd been in failing health and had retired from active business in 1926.

And in 1934, things begin to get back to normal, with both canneries becoming active over the summer. May 16, 1934: June 20, 1934: July 11, 1934: August 8, 1934

[Campbell Interurban Press clippings photographed from microfilm at Campbell Public Library. Hyde obituary and creditors clipping from unknown paper, courtesy of Jerry Hyde.]

George Hyde Property Records

This is a list of some of the property records I peeked at when I searched at the County Recorder's office. "Book/Page" refers to the official book and page containing the record. For post-1923 records, all kinds of documents (mortgages, deeds, chattel mortgages, honorable discharges) went into the same series of books. Before then, there were separate books for chattel mortgages, mortgages, and deeds. The County Recorder's digital copies for pre-1923 records are only the deeds. To read up on mortgages, you need to visit the County Archives on Senter Road and look at the physical book where the records were bound.

Hyde Investment Co. -> Bank of Campbell

Date	Book/Page	Grantor -> Grantee	Notes
7/20/1915	trust deed 76/559
7/28/1915	431/497	Hyde Investment Co -> Ralph Hyde
3/25/1921	531/483	Hyde Investment Co -> County	Alice Ave ROW
3/25/1921	531/484	Hyde Investment Co -> Merrill
4/12/1921	533/38	Hyde Investment Co -> Alice Hyde
6/23/1921	Maps X 67	Hyde Investment Co -> George E. Hyde
11/4/1921		Hyde Investment Co -> Arnott
7/11/1922	551/417	Hyde Investment Co. -> Lottie Hyde
7/11/1922	156/483 chattel 51/520 162/83 163/163	George E. Hyde -> Garden City Bank
8/8/1922	559/329 559/330	George E. Hyde -> T. S. Montgomery	Reconveyance for $8100 loan
2/19/1922	545/329	Hyde Investment Co -> PG&E	PG&E easement for Alice Ave
2/20/1922	564/371	Hyde Investment Co -> Frank Clark
3/7/1923	20/189	George Hyde -> Warren Hyde	36 acres
7/2/1923	20/191	Warren Hyde -> Merchantile Trust bank	$26k mortgage
7/2/1923	41/5 chattel	George Hyde -> Merchantile Trust bank	mortgage canning equipment
7/2/1923	41/11	George Hyde -> Lennon	mortgage canning equipment
7/2/1923	41/15	George Hyde -> Lennon	property
7/16/1923	40/373	George Hyde -> Lawrence Warehouse	field warehousing
7/17/1923	41/94	George Hyde -> Bank of Campbell	[warehouse contents?]
7/25/1924	102/127	George Hyde -> Lawrence Warehouse	field warehousing
7/25/1925	172/406	George Hyde -> Merchantile Trust	$2500 mortgage
3/11/1926	225/107	George Hyde -> Perrot	deed
5/25/1926	246/80	George Hyde -> Lester	deed, Dillon Ave
6/10/1926	n/a	George E. Hyde -> IRS	Tax lien filed
11/25/1926	274/495		Dillon Ave property
1/18/1927	276/209		Dillon Ave. property
1/25/1927	291/597	George E. Hyde -> Jackson	Dillon Ave. lot, sold $10
1/18/1927	313/180		Dillon Ave. property
4/7/1927	313/181	George E. Hyde -> Park	Dillon Ave. lot, sold $10
11/26/1927	344/179	George E. Hyde -> Weaver	Dillon Ave. lot, sold $10
2/4/1928	374/515	George E. Hyde -> Balmain
10/28/1928	419/409	George E. Hyde -> Hatton	Lot on Dillon
3/6/1930	508/128	George E. Hyde -> Roe
9/28/1930	534/217	George E. Hyde -> American Trust	Default 1923 loan
1/7/1931	550/464	George E. Hyde -> Lennon	Default 1923 loan
11/6/1931	592/74	George E. Hyde -> American Trust	Abstract of Judgement
4/26/1932	n/a		Execution of judgement
5/23/1932	616/148	George E. Hyde -> Merchants Association of San Jose	$200 owed
5/25/1932	617/139	Hyde -> American Trust	Foreclosure Sale. Cannery property sold on courthouse steps 4/25/1932