Spaulding Fibre photo gallery | Invisible Threads

Year Built: 1911
Year Closed: 1992
Year Demo: 2006

Leatherboard, vulcanized fibre, bakelite and fibreglass.

The Spaulding Fibre Company made all these fibre products at their Tonawanda facility. Built in 1911, the plant grew and prospered for many years.

The mid 1960s saw Spaulding Fibre at its peak. It was a major company within Tonawanda, NY, employing over 1,500 workers. Since then, ownership changed a number of times finally resting with Nortek who changed the name to Spaulding Composites in 1988.

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In 1992 the plant closed, leaving 860,000 ft² of buildings on a 46 acre site. Demolition began in 2006 with the destruction of the 76 meter (250 feet) tall stack.

While the site had seen its share of vandalism since closing, it was still in great shape. There were rooms full of beautiful old equipment, presses and barrels.