Back in the 1920s, Timken began its first environmental purifications for acid wastes. Later, steps were put in to control steel mill emissions, and water purification was begun. During the '80s, computers were introduced to guide daily operations. The Harrison steel plant had been enlarged in 1927, and once again in 1998. Remember when you had to drive north all the way to Navarre and back around, to get to McGregor School? The space in this city that we call our neighborhood changes all the time. Outhouses are a thing of the past, thank God! Vinyl coats cover old shingles. Familiar greetings are replaced by generic sayings. Houses and schools disappear and are replaced by more needed items, whether that might be a new plant, a parking lot, or a new building. Next Spring, when you open your windows for the first time, and lie awake listening to the clanging of steel and the beeping of vehicles backing up, realize that those are the sounds of progress, which began 100 years ago, right here, in our neighborhood. |
We've got some feedback from "A Look Back" which ran in our last newsletter. The editor's note at the end of the story asked why there were so many bars, barbershops, confectionaries, restaurants and groceries in our area. Well, here are some folks' ideas on that. |
Neighbors for 100 Years |
Barbershops used to be more than just a place you rushed to when you needed a haircut. You could also get your shoes shined, take a bath, and stay up to date on the local gossip. (Remember Andy of Mayberry?) There was a grocery on every other corner because few homes had refrigerators and even less had freezers. You had to shop every few days in order to have food that wasn't tainted. |
Men came from all over to work at the local factories. They lived in the boarding houses and apartments. Perhaps some were recruited from other countries, hence the concentration of Slovak and Polish nationalities here in the area. As they started families, these men built their homes, churches and schools here. Bars sprang up to quench the appetites of hot, tired workers leaving their shifts in the mill. They also provided entertainment. The groceries, confectionaries and other stores dotted the neighborhood, filling the needs of growing families. |
Our largest business neighbor, The Timken Company, grew, just as the country did, on the backs and intellects of these men. They helped to mix the melting pot of nationalities in our neighborhood, the same as these very men filled the melting pots in their mills. In 1899, The Timken Roller Bearing Axle Company was formed in St. Louis, to produce tapered roller bearings. Henry Timken's sons moved the company to Canton in 1901, hired 40 employees, and proceeded to grow the business by adding steel making to its products. In 1909, the name was changed to The Timken Roller Bearing Company. The Harrison steel plant poured its first heat of steel in 1917. The corporation changed its name to The Timken Company in 1970. |
As the company grew, more and more homes and small businesses sprang up around it. During the Depression, Timken began to give back to the community by supplying coal and food to laid-off employees. The Timken Foundation was established in 1934. One of its first major projects was the building and equipping of Timken Vocational High School in 1939. During World War II, women were hired to fill in for men taken by the draft. By 1953, the company employed more than 17,000 workers. Today there are 6,000 Timken employees in Canton, and 21,000 all over the world. |
Timken was THE place to work. If you remember Kay and Peg, from our last issue, their grandfather, father, two aunts, and uncles all worked at The Timken Company. They remember great times at the summer camp Timken held every year. They went to Timken Park on Navarre Ave., played games, did crafts, went fishing, rode horses, had lunch, and then got on a bus and went to the plant where their parents worked. The kids were shown around and fussed over. It made a lasting impression on them. Times change. I've met many people living in the neighborhood who have retired from Timken, and none that currently work there. Former store fronts are now people's porches. Boarding homes are permanent residences. Every home has its own refrigerator. Technology has transformed not only the way we live, but the place we live in. Just as we have made space for TVs, computers and microwaves, businesses like The Timken Company have had to expand and adapt to keep pace with their world. |
Special thanks to Patrick Quinn, Communications Representative, and Lori Killian, College Intern, both of The Timken Company, who made me feel right at home while I browsed through their archives and dug through their vault. |
1945 - Employees leaving work at Gate 14 |
1902 photo of employees Magazine advertisement from 1953 |
1899 - The original Timken Carriage Company in St. Louis |
2000 - Current site of the original office and plant at 20th and Dueber SW |
1901 - Office and Plant at the corner of Dueber and Bridge. (Now 20th Street Gate) |
