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Featured Collections: Irene Moore Vita Foods Collection

Vita Foods Corporation was a pickle processing facility on High Street in Chestertown, MD that, at one point, was the largest employer in Chestertown. The Vita Food Cannery occupied the High Street facility after the Kent Defense Industries plant was damaged in a massive fire on July 17, 1954. The plant closed down and the property eventually was transferred to Vita Foods Incorporated and finally to Dixon Valve & Coupling Co. after Vita Foods ceased operations.

VITA Foods employees at the annual picnic
Sorting through yellow onions at VITA Foods
Sorting through yellow onions at VITA Foods
Isiah "Ike" Teat standing outside at VITA Foods
Flash flood 1969 August
Group of men in an office at VITA Foods 1970 December
Packing spears at VITA Foods
Women employees sorting through pickles at VITA Foods
Forklift drivers at VITA Foods
VITA Foods production line
Carrying a wooden pallet, 1969 August
Sorting glass jars at VITA Foods
82 more
Canning at VITA Foods
Packing fish at VITA Foods 1969 February
Robert Moore operating a forklift at night
Olivia Freeman 1969 June
Woman employees at VITA Foods 1969 May
Camera shy VITA Foods employee
VITA Foods pickle trucks
VITA Foods employees pose by tank
Joshua Cotton at VITA Foods
Unknown VITA Foods employee with Isaiah "Ike" Teat
House fire 1969 May
"Pop" Boyer and Rev. Paul Hilton 1969 July
Sydney Caulk at VITA Foods
Outdoor discussion at VITA Foods
House fire 1969 May
Child drawing
Filling jars at VITA Foods
Firefighters 1969 May
Barbara Sampson's track trophy
Harold Sisco and Joshua "Berkie" Fenwick pick up fish at VITA Foods
Dorothy Brown holding a pie 1972
Production line at VITA Foods
Trisstine Deaton, Elaine Towson, and Angie Gilbert
Employees lined up for food in VITA Foods parking lot
Christmas dinner at VITA Foods 1972
VITA Foods parking lot
VITA Foods forklift drivers
Robert Anderson
VITA Foods infirmary
VITA Foods forklift drivers
VITA Foods forklift drivers relaxing on bags of Harvey salt
Dorothy Kennard Hutchins and Lena Clark working on a puzzle during their work break at VITA Foods
Men chatting at the Annual VITA Foods Cookout
Dishing up beans at the Annual VITA Foods Cookout
VITA Foods employees
Reverend Paul Hilton, Donald Urie, and Dorothy Urie
VITA Foods employees chatting
Janet Rochester, Doris Green, and Florence Tinch in the VITA Foods cafeteria
Four VITA Foods female employees
Mark Stevens and Robert Moore
Alex Faulks on his last day at VITA Foods
Laughs at VITA Foods
Joshua (Berkie) Fenwick in his new hardhat
Joshua "Berkie" Fenwick and Garnett Demby "Foreman" at the Annual VITA Foods picnic
Crocheting during break at VITA Foods
The pickle tank at VITA Foods
Florence Tinch handing out VITA Foods uniforms
Woman and child
Handing out VITA Foods uniforms
Shoveling snow
Preparing food
Geraldine Brooks and Ethel Boyer at the VITA Foods Christmas tree
Harold Sisco
Serving punch for Christmas dinner at VITA Foods
VITA Foods employees in front of a truck
Ethel Boyer
VITA Foods employees leaning against a truck
Female VITA Foods employees posing outside
Five VITA Foods employees outside
Women workers outside
VITA Foods quality control girls
Grilling at VITA Foods
Preparing food for VITA Foods cookout
VITA Foods quality control girls
Dinner celebration
Food counter
Young girl
Annie Hines and grandchildren
Lydia "Lottie" Graves, Audrey Cann, and Ethel Boyer
Vanessa Somex, Mrs. Taseh, Renee Cann, Sharon Elias, and Donna Thompson in the VITA Foods first aid room
Unloading product at VITA Foods
VITA Foods employee holding pots
Edward "Woodie" Rowe and Marvin Rowe making sandwiches
Marcie Hopkins, Elaine Towson, Tresstine Deaton, and Angie Gilbert
Young girl with ice cream
Doris Green and Geraldine Brooks at the VITA Foods fish processing machine
First aid center at VITA Foods
Working with fish at VITA Foods
Puppies
Alex Faulks’ last day at VITA Foods
R. Henry Ford completing VITA Foods paperwork
Rigby Douglas in an arm sling
 

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101 S. Water Street
Chestertown, MD 21620

Contact Us

chesapeakeheartland@washcoll.edu
(410) 810-7161