In 1970, the Little Kanawha Regional Council published a manufacturers directory showcasing the many industrial companies operating across several counties in West Virginia and nearby Ohio.
This directory highlights the diverse manufacturing landscape of the region at that time, revealing companies ranging from glassmakers to chemical producers, and from garment manufacturers to heavy equipment fabricators.
Here’s a glimpse of some key manufacturers in various counties around 1970:
Calhoun County
- Colony House Wood Products, Grantsville
Employing about 18 people, this company specialized in wood products and was founded in 1962. - Granger Plastics, Grantsville
Established in 1964, it had around eight employees making electric animal heating pads, custom injection molded items, and film products. - Rubber Fabricators Inc., Grantsville
With 300 employees, this company produced inflatable life-saving equipment like life preservers and rafts since 1954.
Gilmer County
- Four-D Manufacturing Co., Glenville
Making plastic pipes and fittings, it employed roughly 75 workers and started in 1965. - Kinney Shoe Corp., Glenville
Founded in 1970, Kinney made men’s casual shoes with about 30 employees. - Dowell Division of Dow Chemical Co., Glenville
Established in 1956, with 61 employees, this division focused on sand fracturing for oil and gas wells.
Jackson County
- Dickirson-Davis Inc., Ripley
Founded in 1965, with 20 workers, it designed and made heavy oil and gas field equipment. - Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp., Ravenswood
The largest employer here with 3,450 workers, Kaiser ran a rolling mill producing aluminum sheets, plates, and foil since 1957.
Monroe County (Ohio)
- Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp., Omal Plant, Hannibal
Employing 1,250 people, this aluminum rolling mill was founded in 1957. - Ormet Corp., Hannibal
Producing 240,000 tons of primary and alloyed aluminum annually, Ormet employed 2,100 workers since 1956.
Pleasants County
- American Cyanamid Co., Willow Island
With 665 employees, it produced a wide range of chemicals, including special additives for petroleum refining since 1947. - Cabot Corporation, Waverly
This manufacturer of carbon black for tires, paints, and inks employed about 60 people since 1967.
Ritchie County
- A hub for glass and garment manufacturing, including:
- Champion Agate Co., Pennsboro: Makers of marbles used worldwide, employing 15 since 1938.
- Harrisville Garment Corp., Harrisville: Manufacturing children’s and ladies’ blouses with 900 employees since 1945.
Roane County
- Kellwood Corp., Spencer
With 500 workers, this company made knitted outerwear for all ages since 1948. - Monarch Rubber Co., Spencer
Manufacturer of rubber soles, heels, and hockey pucks, employing 170 since 1948.
Tyler County
- Corning Glass Works, Paden City
Making glass-ceramic tableware with 200 employees since 1959. - Union Carbide Corp., Sistersville
Manufacturing silicones and silanes used in various industries, it had about 500 employees since 1955.
Washington County
- This area had many major employers, including:
- Remington Rand Office Systems, Marietta: With 1,000 employees, it made office equipment since 1926.
- E.I. Du Pont de Nemours, Washington: Producing various plastics with 2,000 employees since 1948.
- Shell Chemical Co., Belpre: Manufacturer of synthetic rubber and plastics with 300 employees since 1961.
Wirt County
- Ravens Metal Products, Elizabeth: Aluminum fabricating with 60 employees since 1959.
Wood County
- One of the largest industrial centers with companies such as:
- A.B. Chance, Parkersburg: Porcelain high-voltage electrical devices, 300 employees, since 1907.
- FMC Corp., American Viscose Division, Parkersburg: Producing rayon fibers, 1,600 employees, since 1927.
- Fenton Art Glass Co., Williamstown: Decorative glass with 400 employees since 1905.
- O. Ames Co., Parkersburg: Manufacturing garden tools since 1774, employing 1,000 people.
A Reflection on Regional Industry
This directory from 1970 reveals a vibrant industrial region marked by a strong mix of traditional manufacturing and growing chemical, glass, and plastics industries. It highlights how important manufacturing was to the economic health of these West Virginia counties and the surrounding Ohio areas.
Many of these companies had long histories, while others were newer startups embracing emerging technologies of the time. Their combined workforces supported local economies and communities, shaping the region’s identity in manufacturing.
While many companies have since evolved or closed, looking back at this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of a crucial era in regional industry — a reminder of the past as the region continues moving forward.
