I'm trying to find out more about the abandoned soap factory in Pagedale off of Pennsylvania Avenue. Did you or someone you know work there? Know anything about its history? I learned that it was only abandoned in 2001 when Lever "streamlined" its operations worldwide, after being in use for approximately fifty years.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Lever Soap Factory, Pagedale
I'm trying to find out more about the abandoned soap factory in Pagedale off of Pennsylvania Avenue. Did you or someone you know work there? Know anything about its history? I learned that it was only abandoned in 2001 when Lever "streamlined" its operations worldwide, after being in use for approximately fifty years.
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I sorta recall when it was built - I was in 7th grade, so that would have been around 1953. A few guys from my HS class worked there during the Summers.
ReplyDeleteGoing to North County from Kirkwood or really, ANY points East, involved using what we called the "Pennsylvania Cutoff," which started at Delmar and ran up to St. Charles Rock Road. One would then drive East a bit and pick up Lucas & Hunt at the Normandy Wedge and turn left. This was, of course, long before I270 or I170 to reach the North.
While I digressed a bit with the road map, the plant was always impressive when driving by at night; I think it operated 24/7 and was always brightly lit.
Sorry I can't supply more info - maybe contact the City of Pagedale?
The plant opened in 1953, closed in 2001 and has been abandoned since that point, besides one corner of the lot being cleared for the parking of school busses. The building was well-built, but broken windows and the lack of closed doors has allowed the elements in, which has caused significant decay and plant growth.
DeleteIt's shocking that it's in such bad condition after only 11 years, isn't it?
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