The History of the

For longer than any of us can remember, the Benton Foundry, once Harrington Foundry, has been associated with the business, industry, and economy of northern Columbia County. Its job offerings drew many of our families to this area, and kept here many of those whose parents and grandparents had settled earlier. Today, 2003, having weathered booms and declines alike, it remains the prominent company in the Benton Area. These words are the words Dr. Harold Ackerman used to open a discussion of the Foundry Back Home in Benton, PA on November 18, 2003.
		Photo by Richard Shoemaker
		Dr. Harold Ackerman

The readers of the Benton News have often gathered around the breakfast table at home to gulp down their morning nourishment and a cup of coffee, but November 18, 2003, was the first time readers of the Benton News gathered for food and fellowship at the Brass Pelican Restaurant, Elk Grove. We listened as Harold Ackerman spun a yarn about the foundry and its 150-year history, and the approximately 9,000 different products that it has made over the years. Readers got to meet Jeff and Fritz Hall, owners of the Benton Foundry, listened as Fritz Hall told about the foundry and its people and products, listened as Beth Ann Harrington Savage displayed a number of products that had been made by the Harrington's Foundry and a number of people received a tour of the foundry, following the breakfast and the discussion.

Beth Ann Harrington Savage

For the Address given by Dr. Harold Ackerman, go here.

For the Bloomsburg Press Enterprise article entitled "Owners praise workers who take the heat, risks," go here.

For the Bloomsburg Press Enterprise article entitled "Small, varied orders keep plant fired up as others falter," go here.

For the Bloomsburg Press Enterprise article entitled "Foundry has always been family firm," go here.