Caswell-Runyan
By Lamont Neal on Friday, November 5th, 2010 |
The Huntington County Historical Society will hold an open meeting Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 7 PM at the Historical Museum, located at 315 Court St. Bill Shaneyfelt, whose family members were employed at the factory for more than 35 years, will present “A Personal History of Caswell-Runyan”, featuring a DVD created from 8mm film.
Caswell-Runyan Company operated in Huntington from 1907 until 1956. The company, which initially manufactured bolster rolls, shoe boxes and shirtwaist (also known as “matting”) boxes, was the first commercial producer of cedar chests, and by 1946 employed more than 1300 people in Huntington, and another 200 in Goshen. In later years, other products were added, including floor lamps, telephone stands, ammunition boxes and medical cases for the U.S. Navy in WW I, sewing cabinets and radio cabinets. During WW II, the factory was retooled to build cluster bombs. After the war, the company built television cabinets and juke boxes. The factory closed in 1956, and the facility was completely destroyed by fire on June 7, 1962.
The meeting is free and open to the public, and former employees of Caswell-Runyan are invited to attend and share their recollections. Light refreshments will be served at the close of the meeting.
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