The Last Pour
How could an industrial giant for over a century fall into a drastic decline and close?
And what would happen to the workers and facility? Many who worked here asked these questions as the plant ground to a close. Workers cast Blast Furnace C for the last time on November 18, 1995, and thousands of people left the plant knowing they'd never return. The cooling of the Blast Furnaces was the beginning of a phased shut-down of the Bethlehem facility. By 1998, all operations had ended.
Multiple factors contributed to the decline and failure of Bethlehem Steel. First, the market was changing. Materials like aluminum and plastic were beginning to replace steel. Starting in the 1960s, the corporation faced increasing competition from foreign mills and mini-mills within the US. In the late 1970s, a number of disasters forced the shutdown and caused costly cleanup efforts of several facilities in Lackawanna, NY; in Johnstown, PA; and near Pittsburgh. Finally, a recession in the early 1980s and shrinking profits continued to propel the decline.
Many believe that Bethlehem's management inadequately responded to these challenges; some think that the Union's demands on wages and pensions made the situation even worse. After 138 years of continuous operation, the closing of the plant changed this region forever.
"...when
the saw operator made the last final cut, the tears started to come down our eyes, and we hugged everybody. We were sad. And that was the first time we heard the mill silent. A lot of the guys you work with, you're never gonna see them again."
- Dave Swartz
Beam Yard Saw Operator
[Photo caption reads]
Workers and family members gather to watch the last pour from Blast Furnace C on November 18, 1995.
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