Canning: A Maine Industry


Winslow corn label, Portland, ca.1880

Winslow corn label, Portland, ca.1880
Item 1469   info
Maine Historical Society

The Winslow brothers of Portland were among the first canners in the United States, and canned corn was their first product.



The process pioneered by the Winslows involved placing corn in a can, heating the can to kill bacteria, and then sealing it. This allowed the corn to remain edible and retain its flavor.

By 1852, their namesake -- Winslow's Patent Hermetically Sealed Green Corn -- had gained commercial success.

George H. Jewett, ca. 1920

George H. Jewett, ca. 1920
Item 1052   info
Maine Historical Society

George S. Jewett worked in the corn canning industry throughout his life. Born in 1849, Jewett's first job was in the J. Winslow Jones' factory in Portland, the first corn factory in Maine.



At left is George S. Jewett's son, George H. Jewett.

Cannery 9, Burnham and Morrill Co., 1887

Cannery 9, Burnham and Morrill Co., 1887
Item 1044   info
Maine Historical Society

After learning the industry with the Winslows, Jewett moved to Norridgewock where, around 1885, he became superintendent of the local Burnham and Morrill (B&M) Corn Factory.



The industry thrived during this time and Jewett held this position for 23 years.

Jewett Corn Factory, Norridgewock, ca. 1915

Jewett Corn Factory, Norridgewock, ca. 1915
Item 6758   info
Maine Historical Society

After his time working for B&M, Jewett decided to set out on his own.



In 1910, he built or purchased several corn canning factories, most of which were in Somerset County. His largest was in Norridgewock.

J.W. Brown Canning Factory, Hartford, ca. 1890

J.W. Brown Canning Factory, Hartford, ca. 1890
Item 4229   info
Maine Historical Society

Maine's abundant seaports, as well as its proximity to the large east coast cities, made the state a profitable place for canning operations.



Since the canning process required fresh corn, the factories were usually built directly in farming communities.

Jewett corn label, Norridgewock, ca. 1920

Jewett corn label, Norridgewock, ca. 1920
Item 1471   info
Maine Historical Society

Every autumn, the canning industry employed thousands of Maine's men, women, and children.



Between 80 and 100 people per season worked at George S. Jewett's Norridgewock factory, with most wages being "at the minimum allowed by law."



More than half of the employees were women, and workers often returned to the factory year after year.

Corn Canning, Lovell, ca. 1890

Corn Canning, Lovell, ca. 1890
Item 6710   info
Lovell Historical Society

The Lovell Corn Shop was built in the early 1890s by James P. Baxter and Sons of Portland. Lovell farmers planted corn for the shop.



Lovell people got jobs inside -- and young and old rich and poor, "upper crust" and "lower crust" flocked to the husking shed to husk corn at four and five cents a basket.

Canning factory, Fryeburg, 1938

Canning factory, Fryeburg, 1938
Item 6542   info
Fryeburg Historical Society

The photograph shows corn being delivered and dumped at the Burnham & Morrill Canning Factory in Fryeburg.

Corn knives, ca. 1858

Corn knives, ca. 1858
Item 6959   info
Maine Historical Society

The canning industry required specialized tools. These knives and can that were used in the corn canning industry near Portland about 1858 were exhibited in the Circuit court case "Jno. Winslow Jones versus Henry Clark," April 1872.

The case was about patent infringement on the design of these tools.

J.W. Brown Canning Factory, Hartford, ca. 1890

J.W. Brown Canning Factory, Hartford, ca. 1890
Item 4230   info
Maine Historical Society

Some of the employees at the J.W. Brown Canning Factory in Hartford show off the products they helped to produce.

Jewett Cannery float, Norridgewock, ca. 1920

Jewett Cannery float, Norridgewock, ca. 1920
Item 6762   info
Maine Historical Society

In about 1920, the Jewett Cannery displayed its products in a parade in its hometown of Norridgewock, reflecting its importance as an employer in the community.

Jewett Farm corn label sketch, Norridgewock, 1916

Jewett Farm corn label sketch, Norridgewock, 1916
Item 1472   info
Maine Historical Society

Labels were important to help consumers identify products.



This design sketch, created in 1916, shows a label for canned corn for Jewett's Norridgewock operation.

Burnham and Morrill Red Jacket lobster label

Burnham and Morrill Red Jacket lobster label
Item 6094   info
Maine State Archives

As was standard in the industry, Jewett expanded the types of vegetables he canned in order to prolong the short corn canning season.



His factories eventually put out canned string beans and apples, but corn remained his primary product.



Other items canned throughout the state included blueberries, sardines, and lobster.

Jewett self-heating can drawing, ca. 1900

Jewett self-heating can drawing, ca. 1900
Item 6763   info
Maine Historical Society

New inventions constantly revolutionized the industry and Jewett chimed in with one of his own: the self-heating can.



The can had a central chamber containing a substance that would release heat when put in contact with water. Water could be dropped into this chamber and the resulting heat would cook the surrounding vegetables.



Jewett claimed it was "just the thing for light housekeeping, picnics, camping, yachting, sportsmen, etc."

Construction crew, Norridgewock, ca. 1910

Construction crew, Norridgewock, ca. 1910
Item 6756   info
Maine Historical Society

A canner all of his life, George S. Jewett died in 1926, and his business stayed in the Jewett family until the mid 1950s.



Corn canning in Maine slowed substantially during the Great Depression, and increased competition from other parts of the country ensured that the industry would never fully recover.



After playing a major economic role in the state for nearly a century, Maine's corn canning industry had all but vanished by the late 1960s.

Burnham and Morrill label, Portland, 1891

Burnham and Morrill label, Portland, 1891
Item 6092   info
Maine State Archives

Bibliography



The Jewett Family Collection (Maine Historical Society Library, #1532, Portland)

Paul B. Frederic, Canning Gold: Northern New England's Sweet Corn Industry, A Historical Geography (New York: University Press of America, 2002).

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