In this ongoing series, we feature a piece from our Museum Director, Billie DeLancey, originally published in The Johnstown Breeze. Enjoy this look back, and keep an eye on the paper for the newest stories shaping our community.
Excerpted, in part, from Images of America, Johnstown by Sandy Wailes-Bennett and the Johnstown Historical Society, 2010.
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The October 12, 1922 issue of The Johnstown Breeze announced a new industry, The Colorado Soap Company, was moving to Johnstown. And, indeed, the factory did come, much to the painful memory of many of the old timers who invested in the company.
The new building, located on North Main Street (now Parish Avenue), was the very latest in factory construction. It was conveniently arranged, well-lighted, and steam heat was installed. The over 7,000 feet of floor space provided room for the most modern, labor-saving machinery to mix and box the soap. The machinery was to arrive soon.
The factory promoters were two young gentlemen with well-dressed, beautiful wives and darling children. They promised the Johnstown people a beautiful financial dream for only a few dollars investment. Many people jumped at the chance with visions of dollar signs and a boom for Johnstown.
One night, however, the promoters left town and the investors were left “holding the bag,” no money – no soap. The promoters were never located and no money was ever returned.
In the early 1930s, the building was used as an industrial denatured alcohol plant under the management of Ethyl Products Corporation and was destroyed by fire in 1945.