(File Photo) Former employees of Fenton Art Glass Co. in Williamstown toured the closed plant in April 2017. The plant closed in 2011 and is the site of the new Williamstown Elementary School.

Old timers recognize the names.

Companies like Marbon (that became Borg-Warner, then GE, then SABIC), Challenger Electric, Vitrolite, Vitro-Agate, Ames, Kardex, FMC, Airolite, Diamond Glass, Demuth Glass, B.F. Goodrich, Johns Manville and Corning, among others, employed thousands of people in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

The companies flourished during and after World War II.

Paul Hobilitzell is director of the Oil and Gas Museum in Parkersburg, where many relics of industries and manufacturers that once operated in the region are kept and displayed.

“World War II made a lot of them,” he said.

(Photo by Jess Mancini) A Challenger Electric display at the Oil and Gas Museum in Parkersburg. Relics from numerous companies, many which have since closed, are on display at the museum.

Those companies have long since closed and shuttered their plants, some demolished to make way for new developments.

Besides economics and market changes, affecting all employers in recent years was the COVID-19 pandemic when the area lost 8,000 jobs, according to the West Virginia Bureau of Business and Economic Impact Spring 2022 report. About 6,000 jobs have since recovered from that period. Manufacturing was significantly impacted in the initial phase of the pandemic, then by the disruption of global supply chains, the report said.

Over the years, economic reasons, among others, including global competition, automation and changes in consumer preferences have impacted manufacturing, according to Greg Delemeester, a Marietta College economics professor.

“First, I would say that we have to distinguish between manufacturing output and manufacturing employment. While U.S. manufacturing employment has fallen from its 1979 peak of 19.5 million workers to about 12.7 million as of early 2025, manufacturing output is only about 5% below its 2007 maximum,” he said. “In other words, the U.S. has been able to produce more output with fewer workers because of increased labor productivity. Think automation, robots and computers as leading the productivity gains for U.S. workers.”

A decline in manufacturing employment over the years was caused in part by competition from expanded global trade and changing consumer preferences, according to Delemeester.

(Photo by Jess Mancini) Paul Hoblitzell, director of the Oil and Gas Museum in Parkersburg, poses with the Ames shovel plant display at the museum.

Because of tariffs raising the price of imported goods, domestic manufacturers that compete with imported goods are likely to expand production and some employment, Delemeester said.

“However, domestic manufacturers that require imported goods as part of their production plans are likely to scale back operations due to higher costs. When tariffs were imposed on steel and aluminum in 2018 during the first Trump administration, one study found that while 1,000 jobs were created in the steel and aluminum industries, over 75,000 jobs were lost in steel-using industries. Thus, steel-using firms such as Hino and area metal fabricators are likely to feel the brunt of higher input costs.”

A workforce that is aging and a drop in the working-age population could also be significant challenges for employers in the Mid-Ohio Valley in the future, he said. However, automation and AI may also add value in some fields, Delemeester said.

Delemeester said he doesn’t have a crystal ball, but uncertainty about the fate and permanency of tariffs has likely made it difficult for businesses to plan for capital budgets in the near term.

“I think a lot of businesses are playing a wait-and-see game for the time being,” Delemeester said.

(File Photo) Schott Scientific Glass, the former Corning Glass, on Staunton Avenue closed in 2004.

Delemeester cites three main steps to help grow manufacturing: make capital investment more attractive by allowing full expensing of research and development costs; expand labor market flexibility by removing barriers to alternative credentialing and make immigration easier for those with S.T.E.M. degrees; and accelerate regulatory (permitting) reform to allow easier construction of factories and infrastructure.

“Regardless, this is a tough question,” said John Deskins, director of the West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research. “First, I don’t think that policymakers should necessarily choose one sector (i.e., manufacturing) over other sectors. The market should choose which sectors are best for one nation versus which are best for another.

“But we should focus on fundamentals, things like ensuring that we have a skilled, healthy and drug-free work force,” he said. “And we should focus on policies that encourage investment, policies such as an investment tax credit, for example.”

In general, manufacturing output has grown over the last 50 years, albeit with short-term ups and downs over the business cycle, Deskins said. Manufacturing employment has declined, however, he said.

“This is because manufacturing has become far more capital intensive and less labor intensive, meaning that the sector produces more output with fewer workers,” he said.

Deskins

The United States and other rich countries specialize in advanced manufacturing where sophisticated systems are used, Deskins said.

“Those systems really do the manufacturing, and workers just make sure that the machines keep going,” Deskins said. “Lower-end manufacturing, manufacturing that is more labor intensive and less advanced, like textiles, for example, has migrated to lower cost-of-labor countries like China and Southeast Asia.”

While the idea behind tariffs is manufacturing will return to the U.S., for businesses to make large capital improvements, they will need to know there is certainty that a “protectionist policy will be in place for a long time and that they will be able to find the labor needed to run the manufacturing operation,” Deskins said. Tariffs could cause a boost in production at Hino, for example, in the short term, but it depends on the extent of the tariffs that are put in place, according to Deskins.

“Right now, we have seen so much volatility, more than 100 tariff policies announced this year, that we are far from a high level of certainty,” he said.

For consumers, the tariffs also will lead to higher prices, he said.

Delemeester

“But the degree to which tariffs will cause a jump in inflation will depend on how broadly based they are and how high. And we just don’t know the answer to that right now,” Deskins said. “Right now the economy is really in a wait-and-see mode.”

Top 10 manufacturers in West Virginia by number of employees

– Toyota Motor Manufacturing, 2,103, Buffalo

– Pilgrim’s Corp., 2,000, Bluefield

– Northrup Grumman Innovation Systems, 1,600, Rocket Center

– Constellium Rolled Products, 1,138, Ravenswood

– Chemours, 1,100, Washington

– Alcon Research Ltd., 900, Huntington

– ArcelorMittal Weirton, 900, Weirton

– American Woodmark Corp., 800, Moorefield

– Quad, 775, Martinsburg

– AHF LLC, 650, Beverly

Source: Industry-Select

Top employers in Wood County by number of employees

– WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center, 2,275

– Bureau of the Fiscal Service, 2,000

– Wood County Schools, 1,714

– Washington Works (includes Chemours, Dupont and Kuraray), 1,522

– Walmart, 633

– Wincore, 472

– Westbrook Health Services, 426

– Highmark West Virginia, 425

– Hino Motors, 422

– WVU Parkersburg, 318

Source: Wood County Economic Development

Top five industries in Wood County

– Trade, transport and utilities, 23%

– Leisure and hospitality, 13.1%

– Manufacturing, 6.8%

– Financial, 5%

– Information, 2.2%

Source: Wood County Economic Development

Largest employer by county 2024, West Virginia

– Calhoun: Minnie Hamilton Health System

– Doddridge: Triple H Enterprises Inc.

– Gilmer: Flying W. Plastics Inc.

– Jackson: Constellium Rolled Products

– Pleasants: Solvay Chemicals Inc.

– Ritchie: Cornerstone Building Brands

– Roane: Roane General Hospital

– Tyler: Momentive Performance Materials USA

– Wetzel: American Consolidated Natural Resources

– Wirt: WVU Medicine

– Wood: WVU Medicine

Source: WorkForce West Virginia

Largest employer by county 2014

– Calhoun: minnie hamilton Health System

– Doddridge: Blue Flame Pipeline LLC

– Gilmer: Glenville State College

– Jackson: Constellium Rolled Products

– Pleasants: FirstEnergy Generation Corp.

– Ritchie: Simonton Building Products Inc.

– Roane: Roane General Hospital

– Tyler: Momentive Performance Materials USA

– Wetzel: Walmart

– Wirt: Maze Enterprises Inc.

– Wood: Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital

Source: WorkForce West Virginia

Largest employers, Washington County

– Memorial Health System, 3,000-plus

– Pioneer Group, 700-plus

– Thermo Fisher Scientific, 450-plus

– Kraton Polymers, 400-plus

– R+J Trucking Inc., 400-plus

– Peoples Bancorp Inc., 400-plus

– Syensqo Specialty Polymers, 300-plus

– Washington State College of Ohio, 200-plus

– Eramet Marietta, 150-plus

– Marietta College, 150-plus

– Dimex, 150-plus

– Globe Metallurgical, 150-plus

– Magnum Magnetics, 150-plus

– Flexmag Industries, 100-plus

– Alliance Industries, 100-plus

Source: Southeastern Ohio Port Authority

Top five industries in Washington County

– Health care and social assistance

– Manufacturing

– Retail trade

– Accommodation and food services

– Educational services

Source: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Office of Workforce Development

Top 10 employers, Ohio

– Cleveland Clinic, 58,433, Cleveland, 2023

– Walmart, 56,010, Bentonville, Ark., 2024

– Amazon, 45,000, Seattle, Wash., 2022

– Kroger, 42,926, Cincinnati, 2023

– Ohio State University and Medical Center, 37,863, Columbus, 2023

– OhioHealth, 30,488, Columbus, 2023

– Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 33,807, Dayton, 2022

– University Hospitals Health System, 32,165, Shaker Heights, 2024

– Bon Secours Mercy Health, 28,285, Cincinnati, 2023

– J.P. Morgan Chase and Co., 20,228, Columbus, 2022

Source: Ohio Economic Development

Companies listed in a 1970 manufacturers directory published by the Little Kanawha Regional Council.

Source: Wood County Historical and Preservation Society.

CALHOUN COUNTY

Colony House Wood Products, Grantsville

Approximate employment, 18. Wood products. Established 1962.

Granger Plastics, Grantsville

Approximate employment, eight. Manufactures electric animal heating pads, custom injection molded products and film products. Established 1964.

Rubber Fabricators Inc., Grantsville

Approximate employment, 300. Manufactures inflatable life-saving equipment including life preservers, rafts, anti-exposure suits, pneumatic mattresses and float balloons. Established 1954.

GILMER COUNTY

Four-D Manufacturing Co., Glenville

Approximate employment, 75. Plastic pipe and pipe fittings. Established 1965.

Kinney Shoe Corp., Glenville

Approximate employment, 30. Men’s casual shoes. Established 1970.

Dowell Division Of Dow Chemical Co., Glenville

Approximate employment, 61. Sand-fractures oil and gas wells. Established 1956.

Gilmer Fuel Company Inc., Gilmer

Approximate employment 60. Buys coal from coal strippers, mechanized mines and pick mines. Established 1918.

JACKSON COUNTY

Dickirson-Davis Inc., Ripley

Approximate employment, 20. Manufactures and designs heavy oil and gas field equipment. Established 1965.

Kaiser Aluminum And Chemical Corp., Ravenswood

Approximate employment, 3,450. Rolling mill producing aluminum sheet, plate and foil, and a reduction plant producing approximately 165,000 tons of prime metal per year. Established 1957.

MONROE COUNTY (Ohio)

Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, Omal Plant, Hannibal

Approximate employment, 1,250. Aluminum rolling mill producing sheet and plate products. Aluminum is received from the adjacent Ormet reduction plant, owned jointly by Olin and Revere Copper and Brass. Established 1957.

Ormet Corp., Hannibal

Approximate employment, 2,100. Produces primary and alloyed aluminum in various forms and shapes from aluminum oxide. Annual production is 240,000 tons. Established 1956.

PLEASANTS COUNTY

American Cyanamid Co. Organic Chemicals Division, Willow Island

Approximate employment, 665. Produces over 40 different products in its six manufacturing departments, including aureomycin, aniline, inorganic pigments and platinum catalyst for petroleum refining and such special chemicals as ultraviolet light absorbers, optical brighteners and anti-static agents. Established 1947.

Cabot Corporation, Waverly

Approximate employment, 60. Manufacturers of carbon black used in the tire, paint and ink

industry. Established 1967.

Monongahela Power Company, Willow Island

Approximate employment, 71. Electrical power generation. Established 1949.

Quaker State Oil Refining Corp., St. Marys

Approximate employment, 200. Refines Pennsylvania-grade crude oils and manufactures motor oils, gasolines, diesel fuels, heating oils and petroleum products. Established 1916.

RITCHIE COUNTY

Champion Agate Co., Pennsboro

Approximate employment, 15. Manufactures marbles of all sizes and colors, which are shipped around the world, principally to England. Champion marbles are used for Chinese Checkers, children’s playing marbles, shooting oil and gas wells and the building trades. Established 1938.

Harrisville Garment Corp., Harrisville

Approximate employment, 900. Manufactures infants’ and teenagers’ blouses marketed under the name of Cheryl Ann. Also manufactures ladies’ blouses and shirtwaist dresses. Established 1945.

Heaton Agate Co., Cairo

Approximate employment, eight. Manufactures marbles. Established 1946.

Ken Mac Inc., Pennsboro

Approximate employment, 45. Makes parts for major manufacturers of electric appliances

and small electric motors, small stamped parts for other manufacturers, machining tools and dies, sheet metal work and production welding. Established 1956.

Mid-Atlantic Glass Co., Ellenboro

Approximate employment, 110. Makes about 200 kinds of handmade glassware. Established 1937.

Pennsboro Glass Co., Pennsboro

Approximate employment, 65. Hand-blown glass of about 200 types of glassware. Established 1938.

Pennsboro Manufacturing Corp., Pennsboro

Approximate employment, 200. Manufactures ladies’ blouses marketed under the name of

Laura Mae Life. Established 1961.

Ritchie Industries Inc., Cairo

Approximate employment, 100. Manufactures children’s coats. Established 1963.

Ritchie Rubber and Plastics Co., Smithville

Approximate employment, 50. Manufactures molded rubber and plastic products. Established 1967.

United Manufacturing Inc., Harrisville

Approximate employment, 100. Garment manufacturer. Established 1970.

Global Industries, Ellenboro

Approximate employment, 15. Steel fabricator. Established 1970.

ROANE COUNTY

Burke-Parsons-Bowlby Corp., Spencer

Approximate employment, 30. Produces hardwood lumber for furniture and industrial uses. Pressure treating with creosote and Osmosalts for railroads, mines, industry and farm. Dry kiln for lumber and treated material. Established 1958.

Kellwood Corp., Spencer

Approximate employment, 500. Manufactures knitted outerwear for men, women, boys and girls. Established 1948.

Monarch Rubber Co., Spencer

Approximate employment, 170. Manufactures rubber soles, rubber heels, cellular rubber and hockey pucks. Established 1948.

TYLER COUNTY

Corning Glass Works, Paden City

Approximate employment, 200. Manufactures glass-ceramic tableware. Established 1959.

FMC Corp., Ben’s Run

Approximate employment, 10. Produces sodium chloride salt, a raw material to manufacture chemicals. Established 1958.

Grief Brothers Cooperage Corp., Paden City

Approximate employment, 24. Manufactures corrugated fiber shipping cartons. Established 1877.

Marble King Inc., Paden City

Approximate employment, 50. Manufactures marbles for the hobby craft, industrial and playing markets. Established 1949.

Precision Engineering, Sistersville

Approximate employment, 12. Machine shop and metal fabricators. Established 1960.

Union Carbide Corp, Sistersville

Approximate employment, 500. Manufactures silanes and silicones used for water repellents, electrical insulating resins, rubber gum stocks, release agents, cosmetics, surfactants, coupling and sizing agents. Established 1955.

Sistersville Tank Works, Sistersville

Approximate employment, 50. Fabricates ASME Code vessels in stainless and carbon steel, nickel and other alloys. Large diameter pipe, stacks, ducts, bins, hoppers and other storage vessels. Established 1925.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Airolite Co., Marietta

Approximate employment, 225. Makes metal ventilators, louvers and special sheet metal products. Established 1919.

American Cyanamid Co., Marietta

Approximate employment, 175. Manufactures pharmaceuticals, dyestuffs and plastic additives. Established 1946.

Ashland Chemical Co., Belpre

Approximate employment, 50. Produces furnace-grade carbon black. Established 1968.

Byerlyte Co., Marietta

Approximate employment, 15. Produces asphalt cement, asphalt cutbacks and asphalt products. Established 1958.

Chevron Asphalt Co., Constitution

Approximate employment, 10. Makes asphalt emulsion, asphalt cutbacks, primer and other asphalt products. Established 1957.

Dragon Manufacturing Co., Marietta

Approximate employment, 10. Makes valve and pump cups for oil field use. Established 1912.

Dravo Corp., Marietta

Approximate employment, 275. Pipe fabricators and makers of high pressure vessels of alloy and carbon steel. Established 1950.

Forma Scientific, Marietta

Approximate employment, 400. Manufactures environmental control equipment for research and development. Established 1950.

B.F. Goodrich Industrial Products, Marietta

Approximate employment 500. Makes vinyl resin-type plastics for film, extrusions, upholstery, mattings and shoes. Established 1947.

Hadley Products Co., Marietta

Approximate employment, 40. Manufactures humidifiers, fresh air equipment and permanent filters. Established 1955.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp., Belpre

Approximate employment 110. Makes printed packaging. Established 1957.

Madison Silos Martin-Marietta Corp., Marietta

Approximate employment 40. Manufactures and erects farm silos. Established 1916.

Marietta Apparatus Co., Marietta

Approximate employment 25. Manufacturer of psychological testing equipment.

Established 1925.

Marietta Concrete Co., Marietta

Approximate employment, 120. Makes precast and prestressed concrete building products and concrete blocks. Established 1961.

Marietta Metal Products Co., Marietta

Approximate employment, 65. Manufactures heat-processing equipment. Established 1945.

Patton Manufacturing Co., Marietta

Approximate employment, 80. Manufactures mine roof bolts, expansion shells and mine roof plates. Established 1888.

The Pioneer City Casting Co., Belpre

Approximate employment, 35. Foundry and machine shop making grey iron, aluminum, bronze and brass castings.

The Rammp Co., Marietta

Approximate employment, 35. Makes specialized drilling tools for water and oils and mine drilling equipment. Established 1950.

Remington Rand Office Systems, Marietta

Approximate employment, 1,000. Makes office retrieval systems, equipment and services. Established 1926.

Shell Chemical Co., Belpre

Approximate employment, 300. Manufactures polyisoprene, a synthetic rubber, and polystyrene plastics. Established 1961.

Silvesco Inc., Marietta

Approximate employment, 16. Makes permanent and expendable pallets. Established 1964.

Thermoform Plastics Inc., Little Hocking

Approximate employment, 35. Makes Strentex plastic liners for burial vaults. Established 1969.

Union Carbide Corp., Marietta

Approximate employment, 400. Manufactures phenol, polystyrene, bisphenol-A, epoxies, phenolic resins and polysulfone. Established 1948.

Viking Fabricators, Marietta

Makes structural steel and iron products. Approximate employment and date of establishment not listed.

WIRT COUNTY

Ravens Metal Products, Elizabeth

Approximate employment, 60. All types of aluminum fabricating, aluminum trailers and truck bodies. Established 1959.

Connor and Amos Nursery, Elizabeth

Approximate employment, 12. Commercial nursery with 300 acres under cultivation for all types of evergreens. Established 1927.

WOOD COUNTY

A.B. Chance, Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 300. Makes porcelain high-voltage electrical devices. Established 1907.

Acme Fishing Tool Co., Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 100. Industrial forging and machining and manufactures oil, gas and water well drilling and fishing tools. Established 1900.

Air Products And Chemicals, Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 22. Manufactures oxygen, nitrogen, acetylene, argon and hydrogen

welding equipment. Established 1940.

Amax Specialty Metals Division, American Metal Climax, Washington

Approximate employment, 180. Produces zirconium and hafnium metals and derivatives. Established 1957.

American Bisque Co., Williamstown

Approximate employment, 45. Makes clay pottery and novelties. Established 1919.

Armstrong Custom Fabricators, Williamstown

Approximate employment, 80. Makes water and storage tanks and forms for precast concrete panels. Established 1950.

Bonded Sleep Products, Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 35. Manufactures mattresses and box springs. Established 1941.

Burdett Oxygen Company, Washington

Approximate employment, 50. Manufactures oxygen, argon, nitrogen and other industrial and

medical gases. Established 1964.

Centurial Products Corp., Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 125. Manufactures concrete culvert and sewer pipe, concrete and light weight blocks, precast lintels and sills, precast and prestressed bridge panels, precast floor and roof systems and architectural panels. Established 1963.

Corning Glass Works, Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 535. Manufactures Pyrex brand tubing and laboratory apparatus. Established 1942.

Criss Concrete Co., Parkersburg

Approximate employment 50. Manufactures ready-mix concrete in Parkersburg and Marietta. Established 1936.

Demuth Glass Division, Brockway Glass Co., Parkersburg

Approximate employment 275. Manufactures glass tubing and rod for vials, culture and test tubes, pipettes and pharmaceutical containers. Established 1942.

E.I. Du Pont de Nemours, Washington

Approximate employment, 2,000. Manufactures bulk plastics including Butacite, Delrin, Dymetrol, Lucite, Teflon, Tynex, Herox, Stren and Zytel. Established 1948.

Emix Manufacturing Co., Mineral Wells

Approximate employment, 5. Manufactures crushed glass crystals for the hobby and industrial

trades. Established 1963.

FMC Corp. American Viscose Division, Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 1,600. Manufactures rayon fibers used for clothing, draperies, upholstery and carpets and special rayons. Established 1927.

Fenton Art Glass Co., Williamstown

Approximate employment, 400. Manufactures decorative glass. Established 1905.

Gate Wood Products Inc., Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 75. Manufacturers industrial pallets, boxes and crates, commercial and military packaging and missile containers. Established 1948.

General Fabricators Inc., Vienna

Approximate employment, 16. Structural steel, stairways and miscellaneous fabrication. Established 1968.

Ideal Corrugated Box Co., Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 130. Manufactures corrugated shipping boxes and packing material.

Established 1915.

Johns-Manville Fiber Glass Inc., Vienna

Approximate employment, 350. Manufactures glass fiber insulation and acoustical products. Established 1951.

Marbon Division, Borg Warner Corp., Washington

Approximate employment, 1,000. Manufacturers of chemical compounds including Cycolac and ABS plastic resin. Established 1957.

Mead Industries Inc., Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 15. Makes plastic garments. Established 1969.

Mister Bee Potato Chips, Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 15. Makes potato chips and popcorn. Established 1950.

Mountain State Steel Foundries, Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 130. Makes carbon and alloy steel castings by electric furnace process. Established 1923.

O. Ames Co., Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 1,000. Manufactures shovels, lawn and garden tools, hose reels and hangers, garden shears and snow removal tools. Established 1774.

Parkersburg Machine Co., Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 10. Manufactures oil and gas well equipment. Established 1901.

Parkersburg Steel Co., Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 80. Manufactures stove and furnace pipe, elbows

and fittings; baking and household tinware and blue steel pans. Established 1900.

Penn Metal, Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 400. Manufactures metal lath and plaster base accessories, expanded metal, structural framing and movable partitions. Established 1869.

Renmar Manufacturing Co., Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 350. Makes infants’ and children’s apparel. Established 1948.

Susan-Kay Candies, Parkersburg

Approximate employment, six. Manufacturers of giant lollipops and hard candies. Established 1953.

Union Insulating Co., Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 235. Manufactures electrical wiring materials. Established 1919.

Universal Glass Products Co., Parkersburg

Approximate employment 200. Manufactures glass containers, whiskey, wines and utility bottles. Established 1919.

Vitro-Agate Co., Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 100. Makes glass marbles for recreation and industry. Established 1932

Walker/Parkersburg, Parkersburg

Approximate employment, 600. Manufactures pre-engineered metal buildings, underfloor electrical distribution systems and structural tubing. Established 1897.