| Itchy |
The Ashton Plant – Gone but Not Forgotten
Bill Pullano, sales representative for the new joint venture, Advanced Glassfiber Yarns LLC, submitted a story to add to
the history collection. Read on to learn more about a facility that played an important part in Owens Corning’s history.
Owens Corning Fiberglas was less than three years old when it established the world’s first glass fiber textile plant on the
banks of the Blackstone River in Ashton, R.I.
The establishment of the OCF plant with its new assortment and types of glass textile machinery marked the
inauguration of a new textile in the markets of the United States.
The Ashton Plant was originally erected by the Lonsdale Company during the 1860s at a time when the Lonsdale
Company owned everything (houses, farms, mills, stores) up and down the river. A concrete example of socialism
existed in the Blackstone Valley and continued into the 1930s.
After humming along until 1922, the Ashton Plant eventually closed in 1935 after major labor disputes in early 1923,
and then the Depression that started in 1929.
The plant remained closed until it was purchased by OCF in 1941. June 2, 1941 is the date that the first strand of
Fiberglas was pulled from a furnace at Ashton.
The feverish activity that accompanied all-out production for defense and later in support of World War II
characterized Ashton’s operations until the mid-1940s. In recognition of outstanding performance in the manufacture
of defense materials, Ashton was awarded the Maritime Eagle and the Army-Navy “E” with four renewals. The late
1940s were highlighted by the location of the Textile Development Lab and the establishing of the Coronizing operation
at Ashton. The Fiberglas Clubhouse was established in 1947 to host employee activities and was dedicated to the 23
Fiberglas employees who lost their lives in World War II.
During the 60s, 70s and 80s, the Ashton Plant concentrated on producing specialty products in support of production at
Huntingdon and Aiken.
After four years of flat sales from 1979 through 1982, Owens Corning decided to close Ashton in early 1983
(announcement was on February 9, 1983) and transfer the product lines to Aiken and Huntingdon.
“I will always remember the truly talented and dedicated people that made up the workforce at Ashton,” said Pullano.
“In Owens Corning’s 60th year of existence, it is appropriate to pay tribute to the pioneers of the Ashton Plant that
initiated production of the fiber glass textile yarn business which has grown to about $325 million at Owens Corning
(now AGY) and probably over $1 billion worldwide.”
Pullano started with Owens Corning in 1964 as a product engineer at the Ashton facility. He worked there in various
technical capacities until the plant closed in 1983. He then moved to Aiken and worked there from 1984 until 1987. In
1987, he transferred into sales.
He now works with Advanced Glassfiber Yarns LLC, living in Cumberland, R.I., about five miles from the site of the
Ashton Plant.
“The building is currently being used for light manufacturing and warehousing,” continued Pullano. “Every time I drive
by the plant, I think about all the great people that worked there and how lucky I was to have crossed paths with them.”
Bill Pullano, sales representative for the new joint venture, Advanced Glassfiber Yarns LLC, submitted a story to add to
the history collection. Read on to learn more about a facility that played an important part in Owens Corning’s history.
Owens Corning Fiberglas was less than three years old when it established the world’s first glass fiber textile plant on the
banks of the Blackstone River in Ashton, R.I.
The establishment of the OCF plant with its new assortment and types of glass textile machinery marked the
inauguration of a new textile in the markets of the United States.
The Ashton Plant was originally erected by the Lonsdale Company during the 1860s at a time when the Lonsdale
Company owned everything (houses, farms, mills, stores) up and down the river. A concrete example of socialism
existed in the Blackstone Valley and continued into the 1930s.
After humming along until 1922, the Ashton Plant eventually closed in 1935 after major labor disputes in early 1923,
and then the Depression that started in 1929.
The plant remained closed until it was purchased by OCF in 1941. June 2, 1941 is the date that the first strand of
Fiberglas was pulled from a furnace at Ashton.
The feverish activity that accompanied all-out production for defense and later in support of World War II
characterized Ashton’s operations until the mid-1940s. In recognition of outstanding performance in the manufacture
of defense materials, Ashton was awarded the Maritime Eagle and the Army-Navy “E” with four renewals. The late
1940s were highlighted by the location of the Textile Development Lab and the establishing of the Coronizing operation
at Ashton. The Fiberglas Clubhouse was established in 1947 to host employee activities and was dedicated to the 23
Fiberglas employees who lost their lives in World War II.
During the 60s, 70s and 80s, the Ashton Plant concentrated on producing specialty products in support of production at
Huntingdon and Aiken.
After four years of flat sales from 1979 through 1982, Owens Corning decided to close Ashton in early 1983
(announcement was on February 9, 1983) and transfer the product lines to Aiken and Huntingdon.
“I will always remember the truly talented and dedicated people that made up the workforce at Ashton,” said Pullano.
“In Owens Corning’s 60th year of existence, it is appropriate to pay tribute to the pioneers of the Ashton Plant that
initiated production of the fiber glass textile yarn business which has grown to about $325 million at Owens Corning
(now AGY) and probably over $1 billion worldwide.”
Pullano started with Owens Corning in 1964 as a product engineer at the Ashton facility. He worked there in various
technical capacities until the plant closed in 1983. He then moved to Aiken and worked there from 1984 until 1987. In
1987, he transferred into sales.
He now works with Advanced Glassfiber Yarns LLC, living in Cumberland, R.I., about five miles from the site of the
Ashton Plant.
“The building is currently being used for light manufacturing and warehousing,” continued Pullano. “Every time I drive
by the plant, I think about all the great people that worked there and how lucky I was to have crossed paths with them.”
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