**NOTE DATE CHANGE**
Saturday, November 7 ~ 2:00 pm
PROGRAM A History of Alan Wood Steel, the Upper Merion & Plymouth RR and the steel plant’s wholly owned short line carrier
SPEAKER Mike Rabbitt
Alan Wood Steel and its railroads provided jobs for thousands of people and helped create wealth and support generations of local residents. It also contributed to the war effort leading to the Allies’ victories in World Wars I and II.
The venture that ultimately became Alan Wood & Co. was started James Wood in 1805. In 1857, Alan Wood & Co. established the plant in Conshohocken. By 1907, the production facilities of the Alan Wood Iron & Steel Co. added up to 250,000 tons a year. Company records report that by 1920, the facilities could put out 500,000 tons of steel a year.
The 892 acre Alan Wood Steel Plant site closed in 1977, unable to compete with foreign steel mills. The area is now home to GSK, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and other industrial companies.
Mike Rabbitt has been a King of Prussia resident since 1983. He has a BS in Metallugical Engineering and an MA in Theatre. Since he was a teenager, Mike had a strong interest in industrial history and railroads, with a particularly strong interest in the steel industry.
Mike has been an active model railroader since age 10, and built his first blast furnace at age 13. He started collecting materials relating to the steel industry at 15. He has a very large library on iron and steel, along with thousands of photos and drawings. He has made significant donations of original materials to the Hagley Museum.
LOCATION Christ Old Swedes Church Hall (Directions)