1918: (
Satellite, they used the Summerton Mill that was here.)
1924: (
Satellite, a guess because it was on S. Wabash.)
1964: (
Satellite, a guess because
this site existed on the 1952 topo map.)
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Wabash County Historian posted, doubled in size
Picture of the Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company located on the south side of W. Canal St. where the Lighthouse Mission is today. Mark Honeywell formed Honeywell Heating Specialty Co. in 1902 on S. Wabash St. In 1905, Mark Honeywell (1874-1964) developed a hot water system of heating. In 1906, the name was changed to Honeywell Heating and Specialties Co. and they were making thermostats and automatic controls for heating systems. In 1918, the old Summerton Mill on the southeast corner of Canal and Cass Sts. became the home of Honeywell’s. Eventually they moved further east into the old Wabash Soap Co. building (4-24-1918) bought from the Hyman heirs and was completely remodeled and modernized. His company grew steadily gaining a national reputation. In 1924 Honeywell expanded into the Wabash Cabinet Co. plant #2 on S. Wabash St. By 1927, his company employed 450 people with sales of more than $1.5 million. That same year, Honeywell entered a $5 million dollar merger with Minneapolis Heat Regulator Co. to form Minneapolis-Honeywell Co. Today, it is known as Honeywell, Inc. During World War II, the plant assisted in the war effort by making bombsights for bombers, tanks and mortars, the base for chemical warfare shells, heater controls for airplanes and fire control sights for tanks, for which they received several Army-Navy E Awards the first being in 1942. Michael Clevenger recalls that his “mom worked there during WW2, made prisms for tanks. And Joe Lawson adds that “during the Korean War my mother worked in one of these building where they built periscopes for tanks.” Later Honeywell purchased land on Bond Street and gradually moved all operations there by 1964. The company ceased operations in Wabash in 1975. Some interesting dates in the company history are as follows: 8-2-1926 Honeywell held the first picnic for company employees at Silver Lake. 1-1-1927 Honeywell sponsored a campaign to install Honeywell Temperature Regulators in any home in Wabash on a 30 day free trial. 2-3-1928 Honeywell held a community Ping Pong Tourney at its S. Wabash St. location. 4-16-1941 Minneapolis-Honeywell receives $122,000 U.S. Ordnance Dept. order for telescopes. 5-21-1941 Minneapolis- Honeywell minimum pay 45 cents for women and 50 cents for men. 1-3-1942 Minneapolis-Honeywell workers give $1,600 to war relief. 6-18-1945 Minneapolis-Honeywell plans to resume partial civilian production. 4-24-1951 Honeywell leases old Ford factory for defense jobs. 7-24-1951 Honeywell releases plans for industrial center west of City Park. 6-27-1955 Fire destroys old Service Fuel & Service Co. and threatens Honeywell plant. 12-11-1956 Great American Award presented to Mark Honeywell. 9-8-1957 Minneapolis-Honeywell holds open house at new plant. 1,200 visitors. Ralph Petry, Cyril Cole, Marris Magner and Ralph Clupper welcomed into Honeywell Quarter Century Club. 3-14-1959 Honeywell plant to expand on bond St. Addition one step in 4 part growth plan. 7-2-1964 Honeywell factory to be torn down. 1-5-1972 Will G. McLaughlin new manager of Honeywell factory. 11-7-1975 Honeywell now Mark-Hon. President Will McLaughlin. Vice presidents were Richard Prickett, M. E. Schwob, R.R. Loehis and T.A. Long. Timeline information came from Vols 2 & 3 Looking Back available at Visit Wabash County on Miami St. |
I was wondering why the Summerton Mill was built so far from the river. This aerial photo reminded me that the
Wabash and Erie Canal went through Wabash, IN. This photo is not old enough to show the canal, but it does show the industries that grew up along the canal.
And the oldest topo map I could find is also too new to show the canal.
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| 1952/52 Wabash Quad @ 24,000 |
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