Monterey in Monterey County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Del Mar Canning Company, 1927-1947

Historic Cannery Row

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 23, 2012

1. The Del Mar Canning Company, 1927-1947 Marker

[Photograph caption:] Photograph by Ted McKay, circa 1939. Courtesy of Pat Hathaway, California Views.

Inscription. The Del Mar Canning Company was established in 1927 on this site, the original location of the Bayside Fish & Flour Company, a Japanese-operated reduction plant established in 1916. The Del Mar quickly rose to prominence in the canning industry under the dynamic leadership of its president, Edward David. David became a major force in shaping the Monterey sardine industry.

On November 25, 1936, an electrical fire destroyed the Del Mar, the one the largest canning operations along Cannery Row. The fires also razed the Pacific Biological Laboratories next door. Ed Ricketts lost everything, including his personal papers and scientific library. “Wotta disaster,” the scientist wrote a friend.

Ricketts rebuilt the lab, and David rebuilt the cannery. The Del Mar continued canning through the 1946-1947 fishing season, one of the worst in the history of Cannery Row. Ed David sold the operation just days after the 1947 season closed to the Sun Harbor Company of San Diego. Sun Harbor suffered a second devastating fire in 1951 and never rebuilt.

Steinbeck’s Cannery Row Sites
1 Doc’s Western Biological Laboratory
2 Dora

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Flood’s Bear Flag Restaurant
3 The vacant lot
4 Lee Chong’s grocery
5 La Ida Cafe
6 Hediondo Cannery
7 Palace Flophouse and Grill

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Places. A significant historical date for this entry is November 25, 1936.

Location. 36° 37.009′ N, 121° 54.063′ W. Marker is in Monterey, California, in Monterey County. It is on Cannery Row. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 750 Cannery Row #108, Monterey CA 93940, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Central Coast

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Jone Quock Mui (within shouting distance of this marker); One Man, Two Worlds (within shouting distance of this marker);

Detail from theThe Del Mar Canning Company Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 23, 2012

2. Detail from theThe Del Mar Canning Company Marker

Steinbeck’s Cannery Row Sites 1 Doc’s Western Biological Laboratory 2 Dora Flood’s Bear Flag Restaurant 3 The vacant lot 4 Lee Chong’s grocery 5 La Ida Cafe 6 Hediondo Cannery 7 Palace Flophouse and Grill

The Real “Docs” (within shouting distance of this marker); Ed Ricketts’s Backyard (within shouting distance of this marker); A Day in the Canneries (within shouting distance of this marker); The Spanish Community (within shouting distance of this marker); The Japanese Community (within shouting distance of this marker); Science (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Monterey.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Also see . . . California View: The Pat Hathaway Photo Collection - Cannery Row Historic Monterey. We have photos of most of the Canneries from F. E. Booth, Carmel Canning Co., Del Vista Co., Pacific Fish, San Xavier Fish Packing Co., Peninsula Packing Co., San Carlos, Aeneas Sardine Packing Co., Oxnard Canning Co., Hovden Food Products Corp. (Submitted on May 8, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 23, 2012

3. The Del Mar Canning Company, 1927-1947 Marker

The marker is on the left.

Rio del Mar Can Label image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 23, 2012

4. Rio del Mar Can Label

Copies of various cannery labels are embedded in the side walk along Cannery Row. This label is located below the Del Mar Cannery Marker.

Don Palma Sardines Can Label image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 23, 2012

5. Don Palma Sardines Can Label

Copies of over a dozen cannery labels are embedded in the side walk along Cannery Row.

San Xavier Calamares Can Lable image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 23, 2012

6. San Xavier Calamares Can Lable

Copies of various cannery labels are embedded in the side walk along Cannery Row.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 4,070 times since then and 148 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 8, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.