Page 128 - Demo

126A Century of FurnitureKeller Manufacturing Co. (Conveyor.), Corydon%u2014Harrison Co. (726.06)The Keller Manufacturing Co., in Corydon, was originally founded in 1885, by German immigrants, to produce spokes for the wheels of farm wagons. Later, they manufactured the entire wagon for International Harvester. Then, after the great Depression, Keller switched to furniture production. But Keller was versatile, and during WW II they even made walk-in ice boxes for the Army. Then, in mid-2003, after over a century, Keller announced that it would be closing the Corydon plant. When Lynn and I visited in the summer of 2007, the buildings were almost empty. The saws, planers, sanders, etc. had been removed. I did find a conveyor that wound its way through what appeared to be a finishing area. I was surprised it hadn%u2019t been sold off, as so much had been. As I explored further, taking pictures, I came to a room filled with all manner of electrical equipment. The largest pieces looked like giant motors. One was huge%u2014almost as tall as I was.A few days later, I telephoned Bob Hubbard, who retired from Keller after 40 years of service, to ask what all that electrical apparatus was for. Bob said I%u2019d been in the Power Room, and what I%u2019d seen were electric generators. There were also the remains of two steam engines, and various electrical controls. Back in 1953, when Bob first started working at Keller, the company burned all its scrap wood and sawdust in a boiler, to create steam, which ran the two steam engines, which, in turn, ran the two electrical generators. The larger generator was an AC (alternating current) model, and it powered the saws and other machinery inside the factory. The smaller generator produced DC (direct current) for an outdoor sawmill. According to Bob, this power system eventually became outdated. The smaller DC generator was taken out of service first, followed by the AC unit in the 1980s. After that, Keller bought all its electricity.By the time I photographed the old Power Room, some of the electrical controls, and giant knife switches had been removed, and other essential parts had been vandalized. The old generators and steam engines were badly deteriorated and useless. Today, they%u2019re all gone, and the Keller factory has been leveled.