Pamplin Pipe Factory facts for kids
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Pamplin Pipe Factory
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Pamplin Clay Pipe Factory, March 2013
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pamplin, Virginia |
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| Area | 2.9 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1879 |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004169 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1980 |
The Pamplin Pipe Factory is a historic factory and an important archaeological site located in Pamplin, Virginia. It's also known by other names like Merrill and Ford, or The Akron Smoking Pipe Factory. This site is in Appomattox County, Virginia.
At the factory site today, you can still see parts of the old wooden factory building. There's also a brick kiln, which is a special oven for baking clay, and a fallen brick chimney. The factory started operating around 1879. It grew to become the largest maker of clay pipes in the United States.
History of the Factory
The Pamplin Pipe Factory had several owners over the years. It made clay pipes during the time when these pipes were most popular. This peak time was around 1919.
Changes and Closure
The factory continued making pipes until 1938. That year, the business was sold at a public auction. The new owners tried to change what the company made. They focused on making fun, new pipes and souvenir pipes. They also sold handmade pipes from local people.
However, these new ideas did not help the company make money. Because of this, the Pamplin Pipe Factory business closed down in 1952.
Pipes Found Today
Clay pipes made at the Pamplin factory have been found in many archaeological sites. These sites are all over the United States. This shows how widely used these pipes were.
Some of the tools used to make the clay pipes are still preserved today. You can also find examples of the pipes themselves in different places.
National Recognition
The Pamplin Pipe Factory was recognized as a very important historical place. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This listing helps protect the site and its history.
