BECKER
STEEL
You've
probably never heard of Becker Steel. You didnt know about the
secret German steel making process or the submarine. It's an
interesting story that you'll have to read, because there are no known
clear photos of the old plant, but the property is still in business
today.
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Looking through the old C&O Railroad
bridge on the West Side, you can see the old Becker Steel plant 1920.
Becker
Steel was located on MacCorkle Ave, just upriver from the Patrick
Street Bridge. Today, it's called Trojan Landing where they sell &
store boats. There's floating restaurant also. Let's start at the
beginning:
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The
first thing you notice is that before it was Becker Steel, it was
Baldwin Steel. That company didnt last very long, and so the
Germans decided that it would be a good starting point for their own
factory. The second thing you'll notice all through the articles,
is that this area was known as "South Charleston". This ad was
placed in both newspapers in 1914.
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This
is interesting, because the plant had been in the works for a full year
prior to incorporation. Meanwhile..
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There
was a war going on in Europe. At the same time the newspapers were
reporting on "The Hun", we were praising the Germans for
investing here.
But according to
the articles below, this was no big deal.
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Becker continues to build and add to
their plant
The plant is up and running by
1915
Did you notice
that one paragraph?
"The
parent concern in Germany has large contracts with the German
government for the manufacture of rifle barrels, Light armor plate and
other war materials, and it's entire output now consists of such
material. It was rumored that the local company had contracts with
the German government for the manufacture of firearms, but
this rumor was denied today by one connected with the company. "
Meanwhile. the claim was that they only
make automobile parts. This was "probably" true.
Also, did you notice the 15,000 acres??
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BUT HERE'S WERE THE FUN STARTS:
AGAIN PUBLISHED IN 1942: This was
the second German sub to ever cross the Atlantic, in 1916!
German Submarines in 1916 were advanced for their day, but keep
in mind what a 1916 automobile
looked like and performed. Early subs leaked, had bad air inside,
and were small compared to later versions.
HOWEVER, AS THE U.S. ENTERED THE WAR IN
1917,
ALL GERMAN PLANTS WERE TAKEN OVER
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT THE GERMANS
HAD A
SECRET PROCESS.... AND WE TOOK IT.
Fast forward to1929, a year after
the plant was purchased,
Gov. MacCorkle had this to say about Herr Becker's secret...
THE WAR ENDED IN NOV. OF 1918, AND
THE PLANT WAS GIVEN BACK TO THE GERMANS IN 1919.
(New York by way of Berlin)
I believe that
the plant never restarted after this.... under the Germans.
Becker was sold off in 1928.
This would be the big move for Trojan Steel to takeover in 1928
Meanwhile.... they had a little disagreement in 1928
Trojan Steel ad in 1965
Trojan Steel yesterday.....
And today... as Trojan Landing.
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