Hutch Post, in partnership with Steve Harmon and the Conard-Harmon Collection, is proud to present Throwback Thursday. Enjoy a weekly release from Steve Harmon as he presents the "Hutch - Then & Now Collection."
STEVE HARMON
Hutch Post Contributor
Today's "Throwback Thursday Collection" takes us to the southwest corner of Avenue D and South Washington streets.
In 1907, expert machinists George Rundell & Granville Scanland founded Hutchinson Foundry & Machine Works at 14 W. Ave. B.
Business went so well, they needed a larger building to expand. In November 1912, the foundry moved into the new building at 401 S. Washington.
They also took on a new business manager, Joseph P. O'Sullivan the First. (Note to article - Joe's father Mortimer O'Sullivan homesteaded the N.W. corner of U.S. 50 and Kent Road in 1872).
The first photo shows the Hutchinson Foundry in 1912.
They did general castings and machining. At that time, they cast 6,000 pounds of molten metal every-other day in a pyrotechnical display from a white-hot cauldron and poured it into a huge ladle.
Castings weighing more than a ton were handled with the same ease as a small automobile. They also did structural castings. They did a lot of sewer castings and manhole covers for towns all over Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico. The foundry was sold in 1972 to Go Steel Inc.
The second photo shows the Go Steel operation at that changeover.
As the globalization of the world continued, the manufacturing of steel started to move to China and few places domestically could compete.
Go Steel Inc. closed in 1981. The structures were all razed and metal warehouses were constructed.
The third photo shows the 401 S. Washington property today, the Hutchinson Distribution Warehouse L.L.C. c/o Central National Bank of Junction City.
To purchase a print, contact: [email protected].
Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:
Gambino's Pizza
Sleep Shoppe & Furniture Gallery
Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce
STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum
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