Canning

Canning was once one of Havre de Grace’s largest industries. Two major canneries operated along the city’s waterfront, the best known being the Seneca Cannery, founded in 1876 by S. J. Seneca. Seneca, Mayor of Havre de Grace from 1893-1894, was a pioneer in the industry, patenting several inventions that made canning more efficient and affordable. His cannery produced the popular Red Cross Brand of canned goods, specializing in early June peas, shoepeg corn, and tomatoes.

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Havre de Grace was an ideal location for the canning business. Seneca’s cannery sat on the waterfront, where it could easily receive produce and supplies from around the Chesapeake Bay. Finished goods were shipped out from its docks, and a nearby railroad spur provided access to markets north and south. Local roads connected the cannery to Harford County farms. By 1883, Seneca's operation had the capacity to produce over one million cans per year. The cannery's original interior and exterior walls, along with its post- and-beam support structure, are still visible today, currently housing Seneca

Cannery Antiques.