Beet Sugar Factory (Glendale, AZ)

Last updated

Beet Sugar Factory
G-Sugar Beet.jpg
USA Arizona location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location5243 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale, Arizona
Coordinates 33°32′15″N112°10′16″W / 33.53750°N 112.17111°W / 33.53750; -112.17111
Built1906-1910
NRHP reference No. 78000548
Added to NRHPJanuary 30, 1978

The Beet Sugar Factory was built between 1903 and 1906 to produce the sugar beets being grown in the Glendale area around the time. [1] The area's soil was considered prime for agriculture and federal reports stated that sugar beets would be a good crop to grow in the area. The building closed in 1986, and has not re-opened since despite attempts. [2]

Contents

History

The building opened as a beet sugar factory in 1906 started by Glendale, Arizona founder William J. Murphy. The factory ran into a number of issues throughout its run, from needing to change water sources to wash beets, the amount of water necessary to grow sugar beets, low amounts of sugar being produced from the beets, and insect infestations in the beet crops. [2] During World War I the factory was updated to process sugar cane to meet the country's demand for sugar, but the crop needed increased water supply.

It has also been used as a beer-distribution center, storage facility, Squirt soda plant and soy-sauce operation. [3] The doors closed for good in 1986. Plans to restore the factory have been discussed, immediately following its closure, many wanted it to become a civic center [4] like Forward Brands spirits in 2011. [3] [5] [6]

Legacy

Despite often being seen as an “eyesore,” many locals still regard the building for its historical significance to the city. Plans to renovate and reopen the factory in some capacity are still floated. [7]

Mural depicting the factory (far left) and other landmarks. Glendale Trader Joe's Mural.jpg
Mural depicting the factory (far left) and other landmarks.

The Glendale, Arizona Trader Joe’s location has a mural featuring the factory along with several other Glendale icons.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoenix, Arizona</span> Capital and most populous city of Arizona, United States

Phoenix is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1,662,607 residents as of 2024. It is the fifth-most populous city in the United States and the most populous state capital in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugar beet</span> Plant grown commercially for sugar production

A sugar beet is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose and that is grown commercially for sugar production. In plant breeding, it is known as the Altissima cultivar group of the common beet. Together with other beet cultivars, such as beetroot and chard, it belongs to the subspecies Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris but classified as var. saccharifera. Its closest wild relative is the sea beet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glendale, Arizona</span> City in Arizona, United States

Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. Located about nine miles northwest of the state capital Phoenix, Glendale is known for State Farm Stadium, which is the home of the Arizona Cardinals football team. The city also contains the Arrowhead Towne Center shopping mall. As of the 2020 census, Glendale had a population of 248,325.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peoria, Arizona</span> City in Arizona, United States

Peoria is a city in Maricopa and Yavapai counties in the U.S. state of Arizona. Most of the city is located in Maricopa County, while a portion of it in the north is in Yavapai County. It is a major suburb of Phoenix. As of the 2020 census, the population of Peoria was 190,985, up from 154,065 in 2010. It is the sixth-largest city in Arizona in land area and the ninth-largest in population. It was named after Peoria, Illinois. The word peoria is a corruption of the Miami-Illinois word for "prairie fire". It is the spring training home of the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners, who share the Peoria Sports Complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windsor, Colorado</span> Town in Colorado, United States

Windsor is a home rule municipality in Larimer and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. According to the 2020 census, the population of the town was 32,716. Windsor is located in the Northern Colorado region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Payson, Utah</span> City in Utah, United States

Payson is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 21,101 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squirt (drink)</span> Grapefruit soft drink

Squirt is a caffeine-free, grapefruit-flavored, carbonated soft drink, created in 1938 in Phoenix, Arizona. Squirt competes primarily against The Coca-Cola Company's Fresca.

The Western Sugar Cooperative is a grower owned American agricultural cooperative originating from the Great Western Sugar Company in 1901.

Moon Valley High School is a public high school in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, and is a part of the Glendale Union High School District, which opened in 1965. Moon Valley is one of Arizona's leading educational establishments and is an excelling school according to the Arizona Department of Education. According to the brochure on their website, in 2017, they had a 96% graduation rate and an 80% extracurricular activity rate.

The Amalgamated Sugar Company is an American sugar beet-refining company run on a cooperative basis. It was founded in 1897 in Ogden, Utah, and is now located in Nampa, Idaho. The company markets its sugar under the White Satin brand.

Nibley is an unincorporated historic community in Union County, Oregon, United States, about 11 miles east of La Grande on Oregon Route 237 in the Grande Ronde Valley.

The Utah-Idaho Sugar Company was a large sugar beet processing company based in Utah. It was owned and controlled by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its leaders. It was notable for developing a valuable cash crop and processing facilities that was important to the economy of Utah and surrounding states. It was part of the Sugar Trust, and subject to antitrust investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Hardwick Committee.

The Oregon Sugar Company was a sugar beet growing and processing operation created by the founders of the Amalgamated Sugar Company of Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marinette, Arizona</span> Ghost town in Maricopa County, Arizona

Marinette was a ghost town in Maricopa County, Arizona, located just northwest of Peoria, Arizona, along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The site was promoted in the early 20th century for production of citrus fruit, apricots, olives, and other crops. The town was purchased by the Southwest Cotton company, a Goodyear subsidiary, in 1920. Throughout the late 40s and 50s the J. G. Boswell Company owned much of the land for its agricultural production. The town existed until 1957, when the post office serving Marinette was moved to Youngtown. The place where Marinette once was later became the site of Del Webb Corporation's Sun City, Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William John Murphy</span> Founder of Glendale, Arizona (1839–1923)

William John Murphy was an American businessman, contractor, land developer and founder of the Arizona Improvement Company. He is also remembered as the "Founder of Glendale, Arizona" and an important contributor to much of the early development in the Phoenix area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Phoenix</span>

The economy of Phoenix was focused during the early years of Phoenix primarily on agriculture and natural resources, dependent mainly on the "5Cs", which were copper, cattle, climate, cotton, and citrus. Since World War II, the Phoenix economy has become diversified.

The sugar industry of the United States produces sugarcane and sugar beets, operates sugar refineries, and produces and markets refined sugars, sugar-sweetened goods, and other products. The United States is among the world's largest sugar producers. Unlike most other sugar producing countries, the United States has both large and well-developed sugarcane and sugar beet industries. Refined sugarcane, processed sugar beet, and high-fructose corn syrup are all commonly used in the U.S. as added sugars to sweeten food and beverages.

Northern Crossing, formerly Valley West Mall from 1973 to 1996 and Manistee Town Center from 1996 to 2000, is a shopping mall south of Northern Avenue between 55th and 59th Avenues in Glendale, Arizona, United States. Built in 1973 as an enclosed shopping mall, it was turned into a power center in 2000 after years of decline. Northern Crossing is a power center whose anchor stores are Walmart and Lowe's.

John F. Long was a real-estate developer, philanthropist, and late-date pioneer of the West Valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area. He is most often remembered for being the founder and primary developer of Maryvale, an urban village spanning Phoenix and Glendale. He is often considered the “Father of the West Valley.”

References

  1. "Glendale is Already Entertaining a Boom". The Arizona Republic. October 15, 1903. p. 10. Retrieved December 29, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 Valley 101 . (2021). The Arizona Republic. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2021/04/19/podcast-whats-history-beet-sugar-factory-glendale/7245840002/
  3. 1 2 Leavitt, Parker. "Readers' picks: Worst West Valley eyesores". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  4. Somers, Paula S. (October 20, 1986). "Factory promoted as civic-center site". The Arizona Republic. p. E1. Retrieved December 29, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  5. STAFFORD, KATHRYN (August 3, 2011). "Sugar beet heart beats again". The Glendale Star. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  6. "The Phoenix area's most endangered historic buildings". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  7. "Historic Glendale properties you need to see". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 1, 2025.