Jackson and Woodin Manufacturing Company
Encyclopedia
Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, also called Jackson & Woodin Car Works, was an American
railroad
freight car manufacturing company of the late 19th century headquartered in Berwick
, Pennsylvania
. In 1899, Jackson and Woodin was merged with twelve other freight car manufacturing companies to form American Car & Foundry Company
. Jackson and Woodin's management were proponents of the temperance movement
in America, and went as far as buying all of the saloons and hotels in Berwick, leading to Berwick becoming a dry town by 1881. By the time of the 1899 merger that created American Car and Foundry Company
(ACF), Jackson & Woodin was the largest freight car manufacturer in the eastern United States. The Jackson & Woodin shops became ACF's Berwick Plant, a plant that was heavily used by ACF.
cars by the late 1860s.
The Jackson & Woodin shops were destroyed by fire on March 17, 1865; the company rebuilt with a larger facility in the same location, increasing the size of its workforce from 150 to 250.
After Mordecai Jackson and William Woodin retired from the company, Jackson & Woodin incorporated on March 1, 1872 with Clement R. Woodin (sometimes written as Clemuel Woodin, William Woodin's son) appointed as president, Clarence G. Jackson (Mordecai Jackson's son) as vice president and Garrick Mallery as treasurer. The company's partners, Mordecai Jackson and William Woodin, were appointed to the executive committee. C. R. Woodin helped the company grow throughout his time in its top position; an 1879 advertisement for Jackson & Woodin declared that the company was producing 150 railroad car wheels per day.
Also in 1879, Jackson & Woodin helped with the establishment of the local YMCA
chapter, donating the entire third floor of the company's main building (including rent, heat and light) as meeting space. When the Young Men's Christian Association of Berwick was incorporated in 1883, the majority of the organization's trustees were current executives of Jackson & Woodin.
C. R. Woodin stepped down from the company presidency in 1894 due to poor health. Clement Woodin's son, William Hartman Woodin
, who would later make a name for himself as the Secretary of the Treasury
under Franklin D. Roosevelt
, served as general superintendent of Jackson & Woodin, and was promoted to president of the firm in 1895.
In 1899, Jackson & Woodin was one of 13 car manufacturers that were merged to create American Car & Foundry Company (ACF). By the time of the merger, Jackson & Woodin was the largest freight car manufacturer in the eastern United States, with total assets of $
60,000,000. The Jackson & Woodin shops became ACF's Berwick Plant, a plant that was heavily used by ACF. ACF produced the first all-steel passenger car at the Berwick Plant in 1904; it was the first car produced as part of an order for 300 cars from the Interborough Rapid Transit company in New York City
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
railroad
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
freight car manufacturing company of the late 19th century headquartered in Berwick
Berwick, Pennsylvania
Berwick is a borough in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, 22.6 miles southwest of Wilkes Barre. Berwick is one of two principal cities of the Bloomsburg–Berwick Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Columbia and Montour counties and had a combined population of 82,387...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. In 1899, Jackson and Woodin was merged with twelve other freight car manufacturing companies to form American Car & Foundry Company
American Car and Foundry Company
American Car and Foundry is a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock. One of its subsidiaries was once a manufacturer of motor coaches and trolley coaches under the brand names of ACF and ACF-Brill. Today ACF is known as ACF Industries LLC and is based in St. Charles, Missouri...
. Jackson and Woodin's management were proponents of the temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
in America, and went as far as buying all of the saloons and hotels in Berwick, leading to Berwick becoming a dry town by 1881. By the time of the 1899 merger that created American Car and Foundry Company
American Car and Foundry Company
American Car and Foundry is a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock. One of its subsidiaries was once a manufacturer of motor coaches and trolley coaches under the brand names of ACF and ACF-Brill. Today ACF is known as ACF Industries LLC and is based in St. Charles, Missouri...
(ACF), Jackson & Woodin was the largest freight car manufacturer in the eastern United States. The Jackson & Woodin shops became ACF's Berwick Plant, a plant that was heavily used by ACF.
History
Jackson & Woodin was founded in 1840 by Mordecai W. Jackson and George Mack as a farm implement manufacturing company. Jackson bought Mack's interest in the company in 1843, and partnered with Robert McCurdy, whose interest Jackson bought later in 1846. William Hartman Woodin partnered with Jackson in 1849. The company turned to construction of mineMining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
cars by the late 1860s.
The Jackson & Woodin shops were destroyed by fire on March 17, 1865; the company rebuilt with a larger facility in the same location, increasing the size of its workforce from 150 to 250.
After Mordecai Jackson and William Woodin retired from the company, Jackson & Woodin incorporated on March 1, 1872 with Clement R. Woodin (sometimes written as Clemuel Woodin, William Woodin's son) appointed as president, Clarence G. Jackson (Mordecai Jackson's son) as vice president and Garrick Mallery as treasurer. The company's partners, Mordecai Jackson and William Woodin, were appointed to the executive committee. C. R. Woodin helped the company grow throughout his time in its top position; an 1879 advertisement for Jackson & Woodin declared that the company was producing 150 railroad car wheels per day.
Also in 1879, Jackson & Woodin helped with the establishment of the local YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
chapter, donating the entire third floor of the company's main building (including rent, heat and light) as meeting space. When the Young Men's Christian Association of Berwick was incorporated in 1883, the majority of the organization's trustees were current executives of Jackson & Woodin.
C. R. Woodin stepped down from the company presidency in 1894 due to poor health. Clement Woodin's son, William Hartman Woodin
William Hartman Woodin
William Hartman Woodin was a U.S. industrialist. He served as the Secretary of Treasury under Franklin Roosevelt in 1933.Woodin was closely involved in Jackson and Woodin Manufacturing Company...
, who would later make a name for himself as the Secretary of the Treasury
United States Secretary of the Treasury
The Secretary of the Treasury of the United States is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, which is concerned with financial and monetary matters, and, until 2003, also with some issues of national security and defense. This position in the Federal Government of the United...
under Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, served as general superintendent of Jackson & Woodin, and was promoted to president of the firm in 1895.
In 1899, Jackson & Woodin was one of 13 car manufacturers that were merged to create American Car & Foundry Company (ACF). By the time of the merger, Jackson & Woodin was the largest freight car manufacturer in the eastern United States, with total assets of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
60,000,000. The Jackson & Woodin shops became ACF's Berwick Plant, a plant that was heavily used by ACF. ACF produced the first all-steel passenger car at the Berwick Plant in 1904; it was the first car produced as part of an order for 300 cars from the Interborough Rapid Transit company in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.