Ridgely: The Strawberry Capital

This picture, titled "Berry Pickers," hangs over the mantle in my parlor to commemorate an important aspect of Ridgely's history. For a while it was known as the "strawberry capital of the world." I suspect there's some exaggeration to the title, but this small town was a hub of activity thanks to the preserving plants, the railroad, and the area's ability to grow produce.

​The first crop of strawberries shipped from the Ridgely Station in refrigerator train cars was by T. L. Day in May of 1892. In addition to buyers from the north desiring fresh strawberries, there was a demand for the fruit from the Alliance Preserving Co. which opened in 1890, and later by the Armour Packing Co. in 1910.

​An article in the Caroline Sun for May of 1907 reports that "From Monday until Friday of this week there has been 6,617 crates of strawberries shipped to the cities. That makes 158, 856 quarts with the average price of about $.11." 

This postcard was mailed in October of 1909. Tom Rampmeyer, who compiled a series of newspaper articles and memories from senior residents, claims there are three box cars waiting to be loaded, 33 people in suits or white shirts who are most likely buyers, and 21 wagons and buggies waiting in line to sell their strawberries. The Ridgely Train Station is visible in the distance,  and the streets are unpaved and dusty.

This picture is circa 1910. According to Rampmeyer, there were eight horse-drawn wagons waiting to sell berries. The buyers are on the right, standing on a wooden platform. The first gentleman without a coat, wearing glasses and a bow tie, is writing the berry prices in the ledger. The third man could be an auctioneer, he has his hand raised with a small stick. The fourth man has a berry in his hand for close inspection. 

​According to Mrs. Margaret Redden, "Each day you never knew what the price would be. It varied by the quality of that day's berries, how many orders the buyer needed to fill, and the quantity of berries available."

The above picture is also from a post card and was a familiar scene around the Ridgely area in 1912. Ott Rampmeyer studied this photo with a magnifying glass and counted 21 pickers out in the field. A Ridgely Newsletter reports that in the same year the Armour Company's factory was running day and night in order to keep up with the amount of berries coming in. Seven to eight car loads were shipped daily. The approximate number of people engaged in the berry industry in the area was counted at six thousand. 

​"It is a glorious sight to ride through the country at this time and behold the thousands of people engaged in various vocations, and to see the abundance of hay now being harvested, and the luxurious fields of peas, nearing maturity, and the large acreage of corn and tomato ground prepared. We wonder, in view of all of the activities of life, how much thought is given and how many hearts are turned toward God in thanksgiving for all these manifold blessings."