The Starting
The Jones-Chambliss Meat Packers plant considered from the railroad. | College of Florida
The Jones-Chambliss Firm was formally included in January 1911 with a capital funding of $30,000. The corporate title was a fusion of its founders’ names, Charles A. Jones and John O. Chambliss.
That very same yr, John Chambliss partnered with Walter and William Graddick, Barney Hart, Robert Stewart, and William Smith to ascertain the Jacksonville Cattle Firm at 406 Forest Avenue. Located within the coronary heart of a longtime African-American neighborhood, this enterprise started as a slaughterhouse. In July 1916, a one-story brick abattoir, designed by Prairie College architect Ransom Buffalo, was added simply east of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad crossing. Buffalo was acknowledged for his residential designs within the Riverside space. By 1920, Chambliss had grow to be the corporate’s president.
In 1921, Chambliss reunited with Jones, together with Alfred H. Goedert, to kind the Jones-Chambliss Meat Packers, which took over operations on the Forest Avenue facility. The corporate targeted on wholesale slaughtering and meat packing, distributing merchandise underneath the model title “Higher Model Merchandise.”
Progress and Industrial Enlargement
Strike at Jones-Chambliss Meat Packers in 1949. | Particular Collections and Archives, Georgia State College Library
In 1937, the power expanded with a two-story, bolstered concrete construction confronted in brick. A cattle pen was added on the rear of the property to restrict livestock. Resulting from growing demand, additional expansions adopted in 1938 and 1939. By 1940, the positioning encompassed a pet food plant situated north of the 55,390-square-foot slaughterhouse, alongside 141 Nice Avenue.
Life contained in the plant was arduous. Former employee Marie Hendricks Brooks recalled:
“I left house (Union County, FL) within the fall of 1935 to search for work with 65 cents and a pair of footwear borrowed from Mabel Forsythe. I by no means had a chance to return the footwear—I wore them out! Finally, I discovered a job at Jones Chambliss Meat Packing Firm making wieners at 20 cents per hour. The work was exhausting and nasty. I later bought a job at Wilson & Co. making 25 cents per hour.”
In 1949, workers affiliated with the United Packinghouse Staff of America went on strike, demanding higher pay and dealing situations.
Army Contracts and Peak Operations
Plant employees in a warehouse stuffed with bins of pigs toes. | College of Florida
Beneath the management of Alfred H. Goedert, the corporate secured contracts with the U.S. Navy and Air Power, prompting main growth. In 1963, a boiler home, further workplace area, and a warehouse have been constructed.
Three years later, the corporate launched Henry’s Hickory Home, a meat and bacon slicing facility on the west facet of the railroad. This 28,000 sq. foot manufacturing unit was designed by John L. Goedert, Alfred’s son, who had served in each World Battle II and the Korean Battle. John took cost of building and plant improvement.