1122 Harrison Street
1929 Monterey Colonial
The Ruth S Rodefer House was built in 1929 and designed by noted local architect Albert Coats for the bookkeeper of the Sea Pride Packing Company and his wife. It was reported at the time by the Monterey Peninsula Herald to be a reproduction of the rear elevation of the old Custom House. The home represents an interpretation of the Monterey Colonial style, featuring two story height and side gabled roof, full width open balcony, white paint imitating adobe and multi-paned wood windows.
According to Santa Cruz Trains – Railroads of the Monterey Bay Area (1), of all the sardine-packing plants on Cannery Row, only the Sea Pride Packing Corporation was entirely owned and operated by Japanese-Americans, although a front company was eventually created to mask its ownership. For the first eight years of its existence, the Great Western Sardine Company operated just south of the Hovden cannery. It operated via a partnership between local Japanese fishermen K. Niino, Tsunetaro Oda. H.C. Suzukawa, and J.N. Oda. On December 17, 1925, the company renamed itself Sea Pride under the presidency of Harry A. Irving to protect the identities of the Japanese backers who were no longer legally allowed to own the company. Irving was also the president of the California Sardine Institute, which increased the visibility of Sea Pride. The company focused more on specialty products compared to its competition, with some of their top products being abalone and whale, as well as boneless filleted and kippered sardines, tuna, and mackerel. They were also one of the first local canneries to focus on reduction, turning discarded fish parts into powder for use as fertilizer and animal feed.
- https://www.santacruztrains.com/2016/12/cannery-row-sea-pride-packing.html
Directions to the next house: Continue up Harrison Street, turn right onto Bowen Street then a quick right onto Roosevelt Street. You’ll soon find the Maison du Soleil (1130 Roosevelt Street), #20 on the map below.
