From Factory to Education SMALL TOWN FINDS SERIES Traditional Cache

Should be a quick park and grab. This facilitity sits on what used to be the Walworth factory, that at one time in the 1950's it was said there was hardly anyone in Kewanee who did not work at the Walworth or have a family member or relative who did. Walworth was big, really big covering 40 acres and in 1906 employed 42,000 when it was called the Wester Tube Company. Western Tube's name was changed in 1908 to National tube but was the same company. In 1917, the plant was sold to Walworth Company of Boston Massachusetts. The products made included various types of valves and fittings made of steel, iron and brass. All were used to control steam, water, oil, gas or any fluid. Walworth saw the need for a broader to include the barely touched Midwest, as freight rates were the main handicap from Boston. During WWII, the plant made four inch shells casings for the War Department. At one time the operation was so large it had it's own newspaper,post office, fire and infirmary   department. The plant closed in August of 1978 with only 200 employees at that time. Placed with permission. Dollar coin to FTF.