Free local news and info, in your inbox at 6 a.m. M-F. Long before advanced manufacturing defined Jacksonville’s economy, one company helped lay its foundation, one casting at a time. The C.I. Capps Co. grew from a small foundry into a cornerstone of the city’s industrial history.
Humble beginnings: A foundry is born (1919)
In the early 20th century, as Jacksonville emerged as a vital shipbuilding and industrial hub, one company helped shape the city’s manufacturing backbone, quite literally in iron, steel, and brass.
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The C.I. Capps Co., incorporated on March 6, 1919, began modestly in a 30-by-70-foot building on Catherine Street near the shipyards. Founded by Charles I. Capps, the company initially operated a small brass foundry producing fittings for ships built in town. Over time, it expanded to include a machine shop, laying the groundwork for decades of industrial contribution…