One day last winter I drove out to St. Michaels to hear a presentation at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum by a panel of local folks whose families were involved in various old canneries that used to be so central to the economy in the mid-Shore region–and all around the Delmarva Peninsula. One of the presenters passed around a copy of this poem, written during the World War II years by a worker at the Defender Cannery in Trappe, Maryland. That old cannery is no longer standing, but it was located right next door to the “Defender House,” which is the home of the little Rural Life Museum just off of Route 50 in Trappe. Here is more info about the museum.
Here is the poem. (Keep scrolling past the end. I threw in a bunch of extra photos as well.)
At the Canning House
Red tomatoes a-laying in the pan
Hurry there, my sisters, skin as many as you can
Encased in pasteboard boxes
And loaded on the van
Pick the good tomatoes
Pack them best you can
Soon they’ll be a-sailing
To your soldier-man
Shiny cans a-sliding down the shoot
When ’tis moon-time, sisters,
We’ll hear the whistle toot
Then we’ll go a-runnin’
To get our candy or our cake
Our sandwiches and soup
Hard-earned money it will take
Peeling Tomatoes in Federalsburg, Md.
Our F.D.R. has ordered
Many cases for the boys
Soon Talbot-grown tomatoes
Will be among their joys
Lines of patient workers
Waiting in the sun
For their well-earned checks
When the week’s work’s done
When the summer’s over
With canning-house closed tight
Let’s have the satisfication
Of all our work done right
–Posted by Jim Duffy on Sept. 21, 2018

Tomato pails lined up in a cannery in Federalsburg, Maryland

Scene at the Phillips Packing Company in Cambridge, Md.

Scene at the Phillips Packing Company in Cambridge, Maryland

Tomato Cannery in Hurlock, Maryland
Do you know of a RICHARD E. DEAN canning Co. 1880-1920 And location? I have 3 tokens enclosed coin like protector stamped with red ink stating the name and dates. Also says 1 bucket tomatoes peeled: 1 token.the token itself stamped R.E.D. C.C. What is approximate worth.? I’m glad I found your website. It is interesting history if nothing else.
Glad you enjoy the website, Kathryn! I will give a look through my materials on that Richard E. Dean Cannery and come back here to report if I find anything … have a great day!
Hello—– I have approx. 40 of these “tomato” tokens . Have you found any info. ?? Tom Bassett —- Lincoln NEBR.