Among The Unknown | The Abandoned Shenango China Factory Episode 41

Shenango China, incorporated in 1901 initially employed 150 people.

In January 1905, Shenango China declared bankruptcy but was reorganized as Shenango Pottery in 1909.

By this time, 400 people were employed.

Shenango purchased New Castle Pottery Company in 1912. By March 1913, all equipment was moved into the facility.

A large flood in March led a delay in the opening of Shenango Pottery’s new factory until May.

After World War II, there was a high demand for dinnerware. A 150,000 square-feet expansion for decoration and 60,000 square-feet expansion for a new tunnel kiln was initiated in 1945, and completed in 1947.

Shenango Pottery was renamed to Shenango China in 1954.

Shenango acquired Wallace China, to be operated as a subsidiary, in March 1959 and Mayer China in 1964.

In 1968, The company was sold for $5.4 million to Inerpace Corporation.

Shenango announced a five-year modernization and expansion project beginning in 1973 to keep up with demand.

Sales in 1972 were the highest in company history.

Boasting that it was the largest employer in the area, Interpace announced in 1973 that it would expand Shenango in 2 phases.
One in 1974, and another in 1978.

In 1979, Interpace sold Shenango to Anchor Hocking
but in 1987, Anchor Hocking sold Shenango to Newell Company of Freeport, Illinois and then was sold to Canadian Pacific within six months.

The company then closed Shenango China and reorganized,
then was sold to the Pfaltzgraff Company of York, Pennsylvania in 1989.

Consolidation in plants and a decline in the economy led to the permanent closure of the Shenango China factory in December 1991.

In 2011, an arson fire occurred at the factory by individuals who were trying to burn plastic coatings off of wire in attempted copper theft.

Another fire occurred in 2012.

(All typos corrected)

*Please take note of the sentences shown at the bottom of the video during scenes.*