Barberton in Summit County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
PPG Industries in Barberton
1900 - 2000
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 8, 2011
1. PPG Industries in Barbeton Marker
Attracted by the availability of raw materials and railroad transportation, the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (PPG) built a plant here in 1899 to make soda ash for the company's glassmaking operations. This plant began production in 1900 as the Columbia Chemical Company and represents the beginning of PPG's diversified chemical manufacturing operations. During the 20th century this plant operated the world's deepest (at 2,200 feet) limestone mine and manufactured commodity chemicals such as chlorine, caustic soda, and calcium chloride. By 2000, manufacture of specialty chemicals for the optical, pharmaceutical, printing, and rubber industries superseded mining and commodity chemical manufacturing. PPG's reclamation of its former soda ash waste disposal sites, known as "lime lakes," has won recognition for environmental stewardship.
Erected 2000 by PPG Industries and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 16-77.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.
Location. 41° 0.127′ N, 81° 37.148′ W. Marker is in Barberton, Ohio, in Summit County
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Slovenian Independent Society Home (approx. ¾ mile away); Glenn "Jeep" Davis (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Freedom Tree (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named The Freedom Tree (approx. one mile away); Staff Sergeant Howard E. Woodford (approx. one mile away); Barberton Military Honor Roll (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named The Freedom Tree (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named The Freedom Tree (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Barberton.
Also see . . . PPG Industries, Barberton OH. (Submitted on June 25, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 8, 2011
2. PPG Industries in Barbeton Marker
Looking south
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 8, 2011
3. Part of PPG Industries' Barbeton Complex
Looking NE across Hudson Run Road and Columbia Lake toward part of PPG Industries (view from near the marker)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,774 times since then and 302 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 25, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
