General Stores and Mold Loft Building-Harriman Yard of the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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General Stores and Mold Loft Building-Harriman Yard of the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation
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General Stores and Mold Loft Building-Harriman Yard of the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation, 2012
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1414 Radcliffe St., Bristol, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 1.8 acres (0.73 ha) |
| Built | 1917 |
| Built by | Ley, Fred T., & Company |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000722 |
| Added to NRHP | July 31, 2003 |
The General Stores and Mold Loft Building-Harriman Yard of the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation, also known as the Manhattan Soap Company Warehouse, is a very old and important building in Bristol, Pennsylvania. It was built a long time ago in 1917. This strong, three-story building is made of reinforced concrete, which is a super-strong type of concrete with steel inside.
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A Historic Building's Journey
This special building has had two very different lives. First, it helped build ships for a big war. Then, it became a place where soap was made!
Built for World War I
The General Stores and Mold Loft Building was originally part of a huge shipbuilding area called Harriman Yard. This yard was owned by the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation. During World War I, which lasted from 1914 to 1918, many ships were needed. The company built about 30 buildings here to help make those ships.
This particular building had two main jobs:
- General Stores: This part was like a giant storage room. It held all the materials and parts needed to build the ships. Think of it like a huge warehouse for ship pieces.
- Mold Loft: This was a special area where workers created large patterns, called "molds." These molds were used to cut the metal pieces that would become parts of the ships. It was a bit like making a giant stencil for ship parts.
From Ships to Soap
After World War I ended, the need for so many ships decreased. In 1925, the building was sold to a different company called the Manhattan Soap Company. They turned the old shipbuilding building into a factory for making soap!
Later, in 1956, the Purex Corporation bought the Manhattan Soap Company. The building continued to be used for making soap, including the well-known Dial soap. It stayed a soap factory until the year 2000.
A Recognized Landmark
Because of its important history, the General Stores and Mold Loft Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. This list helps protect important buildings and places in the United States so future generations can learn about them.
