Atlantic Steel facts for kids
The Atlantic Steel Company was a large steel-making business located in Atlanta, Georgia. Its huge factory once stood where the modern Atlantic Station shopping and living complex is found today.
Contents
Starting Small: The Company's Beginnings
The story of Atlantic Steel began in 1901. It was first known as the Atlanta Hoop Company. At that time, it had about 120 employees. The company made things like ties for cotton bales and hoops for barrels.
Over time, the company changed its name. It became the Atlanta Steel Company. Then, in December 1915, it officially became the Atlantic Steel Company.
Leading the Way: Early Presidents
From 1908 to 1922, Thomas K. Glenn was the company's president. He was a very important leader for the company. You can even see a copy of his old office at the Millennium Gate museum in Atlantic Station.
Growing Big: What Atlantic Steel Made
By 1952, the Atlantic Steel factory had grown a lot. It employed about 2,100 people. The company made many different steel products.
Besides hoops and ties, they produced things like:
- Fences for farms and chickens
- Barbed wire
- Steel bars and angles
- Nails and rivets
- Welding rods
- Parts for machines (forgings)
- Fence posts
The Famous "Mr. Tom" Whistle
The steel plant had a very special steam whistle. It made a deep, loud sound. This whistle was known as "Mr. Tom." It was named after Tom Glenn, who was an early president of the company.
Facing Challenges: Competition and Change
By 1958, Atlantic Steel started to face tough competition. Steel companies from other countries were selling steel at lower prices. This made it hard for smaller American steel makers like Atlantic Steel to compete.
In 1958, Atlantic Steel was only making 37% of the steel it could produce. The company even spoke to the United States House Committee on Ways and Means. They asked for help to deal with the foreign competition.
The Company's Final Years
In 1979, a company called Ivaco bought Atlantic Steel. Ivaco was from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. During the 1980s, parts of the factory slowly closed down. This was because competition from both inside and outside the country became even stronger.
By 1997, the number of employees had dropped a lot. In 1979, there were 1,400 workers. But by 1997, only about 400 people still worked there.
In 1998, a company called Jacoby Development bought the entire complex. They paid about 76 million US dollars. The old factory buildings were torn down. The land was cleaned up, and the new Atlantic Station was built in its place.
