Editing Ford City, Pennsylvania (section)

=== Early History ===
In 1886, Ford City submitted and received its charter from the [[Pennsylvania|Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]]. One of the men who delivered the original charter to [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]] was Robert Naismith, brother of [[James Naismith]], the inventor of basketball. Previously part of [[Manor Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania|Manor Township]], Ford City Borough became one of the fastest-growing boroughs in the United States, gaining over 3,000 in population in only 10 years. Drawing workers and their families from over 35 identifiable European ethnic groups, Ford City became the quintessential example of America’s [[melting pot]]. Uniquely, Ford City never experienced racial or ethnic strife- Ford’s glass factory made all men equal.
Through the early 20th century, Ford’s company, Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (now [[PPG Industries]]), became the leading manufacturer of glass in the entire world. Producing a better type of glass at a lesser price than its European competitors. PPG’s efficiency and product quality virtually ended the importation of European glass to the United States. As demand increased, the need for more laborers in the Ford City Works factory also increased. The town grew daily.

Through the early part of the 20th century, Ford City prospered. It touched every skyscraper of the United States in the glass that formed the exteriors of the magnificent structures. The common bond was found in the changing of the shifts at PPG and at the Friday-night basketball games. Ford City High School basketball has seemingly prospered the life of the town. Winning the section title was an annual event, and the teams amassed a [[Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League]] (WPIAL) record 34 section titles. It used to be said that every garage in every alley in Ford City had a basketball hoop attached to it. Boulder Park became a mecca of summer league basketball, drawing teams from as far away as Pittsburgh and New Castle.

In the early 1970’s, manufacturing changes at PPG caused a relocation of many of the town’s workers. This trend continued for 20 years, with the workforce gradually being reduced or transferred to PPG’s other plants. Finally, in 1992, PPG permanently closed its gates and began the demolition of portions of the Ford City Works, formerly the largest plate-glass factory in the world. As its peak, PPG employed over 4,000 workers. Its loss to Ford City was profound and deeply felt. To this day, the number of pensioned workers from PPG Ford City Works is greater than the total workforces of many of PPG’s existing operating facilities. The loss of PPG was economically devastating to the town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History – Ford City Borough |url=https://fordcityborough.org/sample-page/history/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=fordcityborough.org}}</ref>
In 1987 Natures Blend moved to a portion of the former factory. In 1989 it began manufacturing cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and framing for some of the area’s largest housing builders. By 1999, Nature’s Blend had grown in sales and product offerings, necessitating expansion. They doubled their production floor space to over 80,000 sq. ft. and invested in additional equipment. This expansion provided them with the means to process hardwoods from kiln-dried state to finished product, ready to install.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About – Natures Blend American Made Cabinets and Accessories |url=https://www.natures-blend.com/about/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |language=en-US}}</ref> 

In 1989, KPM, founded by Sam Kube and Albert Plekker in [[Greensburg, Pennsylvania]] in 1983, moved into the new company headquarters in Ford City, Pennsylvania in a small portion of the former plant. The presidents decide to specialize in the modernization of roll grinders in 1990. In 1999, KPM became part of the Herkules Group providing employment opportunities within the Borough.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herkules |title=KPM – USA |url=https://www.herkules-machinetools.com/company/locations/kpm-usa/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=www.herkules-machinetools.com |language=en}}</ref>
Dallas-based Eljer had operated a facility in Ford City since 1918 when the company acquired a former pottery plant from PPG Industries and Ford City founder John B. Ford. The name "Eljer" was formed by founders Raymond Elmer Crane and Elmer Jerome Bacchus putting together the first few letters of their middle names. Today, American Standard, which merged with the well-known plumbing brands Eljer and [[Crane Plumbing Corporation|Crane]], is owned primarily by private equity firm [[Sun Capital Partners]], with private equity firm Bain Capital Partners Inc. holding a minority share. 

The Ford City plant had a long manufacturing history, but in prior years to its closing its work force had gradually decreased. About 20 years before, the plant employed around 700. By 2003, employment had fallen to 500, then to 300 in 2004. By early 2007, employment had fallen another 140. However, the Borough's situation worsened with the shutdown of the plant in 2008, further impacting local employment. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tribliveoffers.com/welcome |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=www.tribliveoffers.com}}</ref>