Prep work started in Warren for historic GE plant demolition

WARREN

Preparation work has begun on the $2.4 million demolition of the 354,000 square foot historic General Electric Ohio Lamp Plant on Dana Street Northeast.

The approximately 100-year-old facility was GE’s last factory that made only incandescent light bulbs when it closed at about this time last year after concessionary contract talks failed to produce a new contract. More than 180 people worked there.

The factory has historic significance for Warren because the Packard brothers first manufactured incandescent light bulbs at that location around 1890, before building their first Packard automobile there in 1899 and later selling off their light-bulb business to focus on wiring harnesses.

Packard automobile production moved to Michigan in 1902, and GE took over the light-bulb operation about 1916 — at about the time historians believe the first building at the GE plant was constructed.

Historians believe all of the buildings the Packard brothers used at that site were removed either early last century or after that.

Read the complete story in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.