From The Beaufort News,
June 22, 1944:
Mr. Harvey Smith is the son-manager of the Beaufort factory which is but one of nine owned and operated by Mr. J. Howard Smith of Port Monmouth, N.J., where the parent plant—the largest of its kind in the world—is located. This plant is 87 years old, but Mr. Smith has owned and operated it but 40—long enough to raise his boys in the menhaden tradition so that all of his plants are now managed by himself and his three sons.
The Beaufort plant "under our nose" is the one of chief interest to us. It's supposed to be one of the smaller ones but at that is the largest in North Carolina and has a group of buildings covering two-and-a-half acres, the largest of which is the 100x250 foot warehouse in which tracks of the Smith spur of the Beaufort & Morehead Railroad run; the most striking of which is the lovely brick and clapboard Smith home against the background of grey factory buildings; and the best known of which is the modern dining hall which from time to time takes on a Country Club aspect when it is thrown open for dancing to visiting members of the Masonic Order, for other celebrations, or when Mrs. Smith wishes to entertain a very large group of friends for luncheon. Mr. Smith bought the plant in 1927, but it was an old plant that had been operated by the Levering Brothers of Baltimore. The Fish Meal Company, known locally as Smith's, operates from 10 to 18 boats during the season (Nov. to Feb. 1) . . .
The Beaufort plant "under our nose" is the one of chief interest to us. It's supposed to be one of the smaller ones but at that is the largest in North Carolina and has a group of buildings covering two-and-a-half acres, the largest of which is the 100x250 foot warehouse in which tracks of the Smith spur of the Beaufort & Morehead Railroad run; the most striking of which is the lovely brick and clapboard Smith home against the background of grey factory buildings; and the best known of which is the modern dining hall which from time to time takes on a Country Club aspect when it is thrown open for dancing to visiting members of the Masonic Order, for other celebrations, or when Mrs. Smith wishes to entertain a very large group of friends for luncheon. Mr. Smith bought the plant in 1927, but it was an old plant that had been operated by the Levering Brothers of Baltimore. The Fish Meal Company, known locally as Smith's, operates from 10 to 18 boats during the season (Nov. to Feb. 1) . . .
