Allen-Hendrickson Packing Company started canning salmon at Rainier in 1917 on the thoroughly remodeled hull of the former steamer Lurline that was fitted with the latest canning machinery. In 1918 they began packing the evergreen blackberry, later adding fruits and vegetables. In 1919 Allen-Hendrickson expanded their business by purchasing a building and waterfront owned by the Dean Blanchard estate. In 1922 they included the canning of beans. In 1927 Henry Barbey of Barbey Packing Co. purchased the Allen-Hendrickson Packing Company at Rainier. This added to his growing operations along the Columbia River. Barbey canned a large variety of products including fish, jams, jellies, and vegetables that included green beans. In 1938 Barbey closed the Rainier cannery, sending the canning equipment to his facilities in Astoria. He later donated two buildings and waterfront property used in his canning to the city of Rainer for one dollar. (reference: newspaper clippings and the book "Barbey, The Story of a Pioneer Columbia River Salmon Packer" by Roger T. Tetlow and Graham J. Barbey.)

This is a 1921 Sanborn Map showing a portion of downtown Rainier Oregon. The location of the Allen-Hendrickson Packing Company can be seen at top. The photo of the Rainier Cannery, shown above, was taken at position A looking West. The only buildings from that time period that still survive, as of 2024, are occupied (or were) by the following businesses: 1. Rainier True Value Hardware 2. Cornerstone Cafe and 3. the former State Bank of Rainier building.

George Jacobs, the bean boss, at the Barbey Packing Company in Rainier, Oregon in the 1930s. Photo donated by Rosalie (Jacobs) Herstrom.

On September 12, 1931, Victor Teir took a job on the Barbey Packing Co. cannery tender Mayday that was transporting 25 tons of salmon from Rainier to the Barbey plant in Astoria. Victor, 18, was entering his senior year at Rainier High school and was planning to go to a dance that same night, but instead, joined two others in the delivery of the salmon because he felt he needed the cash. But tragedy happened right after leaving the dock. While crossing the river, the Mayday was struck by the steamship Florence Luckenback. The steamship was traveling down river at a good speed, powered by her engines and also the current. The force of the collision caused the Mayday to roll over, losing its load of salmon, and putting a large hole in her bow. Capt. Edwards and crewman Robert Sigurdson managed to save themselves by clinging onto the wreckage, but Victor was nowhere to be seen. The Luckenback stopped and sent a life boat back. Everyone was searching for Victor. Robert dove down and felt for him. He thought he had a hold of him, but it turned out to be a salmon. The water was full of salmon. He would let go of the salmon and go down again but without luck. Victor was found the next day. He had drowned. Cause of the accident was due to thick fog and of all the salmon that had been stacked high on the deck that made it hard to see out of the pilot house window. Also, they had seen the Florence Luckenback up river coming down and thought, wrongly, that they had enough time to cross the river before the Luckenback reached that point. Though badly damaged the Mayday did not sink. It was towed to a Rainier drydock where it was completely rebuilt, but it never looked the same as she did before the tragic collision.

Reference: "Barbey, The Story of a Pioneer Columbia River Salmon Packer" by Roger T. Tetlow and Graham J. Barbey.