Puritan Ice operated in Guadalupe from 1922 through 2008, although ownership transferred in 1986.
Guadalupe was the second ice manufacturing plant, but was the most critical to Puritan’s business model and economic success. Relying heavily, and unexpectedly, on Japanese farmers, the plant opened the Santa Maria and Guadalupe regions to vegetable growing on a large scale.
The plant was demolished in 2012. A series of images taken prior to demolition are compiled in the album Puritan Ice – Final Days in Guadalupe. Or view the packing labels from the Puritan Ice suppliers in Guadalupe, Lompoc, and Blythe.
Don’t forget to buy the book, The Puritan Ice Companies: The Ice Empire of California’s Central Coast.
And check out images from other regions where Puritan flourished. And the collection from Guadalupe’s Final Days, 2010 – 2011.
1923c Puritan Ice Guadalupe plant #2, shortly after opening.
1925c Puritan Ice Guadalupe cooling tower
1925c Puritan Ice Guadalupe cooling tower
1925c Puritan Ice Guadalupe eastern approach
1925c Puritan Ice Guadalupe
1925c Puritan Ice Guadalupe icerats on tanktops
1925c Puritan Ice Guadalupe the engine room and ice tanks
1926c Puritan Ice Guadalupe major plant expansion
1930c Puritan Ice Guadalupe rail icing platform with conveyor from storage building
1930c Puritan Ice Guadalupe western approach. CLG is California Lettuce Growers, a Puritan Ice Company
1925c, Setsuo Aratani, key to Puritan's success, standing left of middle, was an avid baseball player
1942 Dr. Suess anti-Japanese cartoon that appeared in M magazine
1952 Vacuum Precooling construction - identities unknown
1960c aerial of the Puritan Ice rail yards, packing sheds and plant. Note rail cars at long shed in foreground.
1990c aerial of the plant and yards.
1984 Puritan Ice, Guadalupe plant, 300# ice blocks on conveyor to storage.
1984, Puritan Ice, Vacuum Precooling facility, Guadalupe
1984 Welcome to Guadalupe town sign at the Puritan Ice plant site.
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