![]() Domino Sugar Factory After its Closeįor the next decade, Domino Sugar sat empty and abandoned, left to rot away like the rest of New York’s forgotten industrial buildings. Domino Sugar closed in 2004, producing only a fraction of the sugar it made in its heyday. By the mid-’90s only a few hundred people worked at the factory. By the 1970s, Domino Sugar was the only refinery left in Williamsburg. After World War II, the company had to let go of many of its workers, and things only got worse, even after an expansion of the facilities in the 1960s. The opening of several other large plants, especially in Baltimore, meant Brooklyn plants were reducing the amount of sugar they made.Įmployment remained steady through the 1930s and 1940s, though the production of sugar largely hit a plateau. However, the 1920s are when Domino Sugar peaked, at least in Brooklyn. However, just a few years later, the plant was employing nearly 5,000 people and shipping over 70,000 tons of sugar per year. A fire at the plant in 1917 held things up a bit, especially since they had no insurance because leadership thought the building was immune to fire. In 1907, Domino Sugar even built the East River Terminal Railroad to make transportation of their product easier. Havemeyer, in the early 1900s.įor a long time, business was great. The name “Domino Sugar” came from the grandson of Theodore A. A sugar company was an indicator for economic growth in the nation. In fact, the company was so large that, in 1896, it became one of the first companies sighted in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The refinery was producing 13,000 barrels of sugar a day in 1894, so the Havemeyers weren’t exactly hurting for cash. ![]() The Sherman Antitrust Act forced the company to restructure their business, however very little actually changed. Domino Sugar as a Sign Of Economic Growth In just a few short years, nearly all of the country’s sugar came from the Havemeyer family and their company, The Sugar Trust. By 1884, over 5,000 barrels of sugar were being made daily at the refinery. However, once the current structure was built, the family was back on top. Though the Havemeyer family produced around three-quarters of the nation’s sugar before then, a large fire destroyed most of their facilities. Havemeyer, the Domino Sugar Factory was the largest refinery in Williamsburg, a neighborhood known for a large number of sugar factories and refineries at the time. The sugar factory is a prime example of how New York City celebrates the old while modernizing the surrounding area. What was once the largest producer of sugar in the United States is currently an eleven-acre, mixed-use commercial and residential space, with the landmarked refinery still standing strong. The Domino Sugar Factory is one of these landmarks. Many of these landmarks, though abandoned, capture the imagination of city-goers and provide a visual representation of what each neighborhood used to be. resumed partial operations at April 22.New York City is riddled with landmarks that harken back to an industrial past. "We want to again express our gratitude to our employees, not only in Baltimore but across our network of facilities, and the Baltimore City Fire Department for their quick response, which spared the refinery itself from any damage."Īmerican Sugar Refining, Inc. "The fact that we are fully operational within eight days is a credit to our expert team of engineers and our more than 500 employees who have been working around the clock to ensure the Baltimore Refinery resumes production of our full line of products for our customers," said ASR Group's Senior Vice President of Operations Mickey Seither. There were no injuries and 510 employees returned to work that Wednesday. The fire did not enter or damage the refinery building. BALTIMORE (WJZ) - Domino Sugar Refinery resumed full operations Wednesday following a fire that caused eight days of only partial operations.Īccording to refinery officials, the fire began in the raw sugar shed and was confined to the shed, which is a free standing structure.
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