The Legacy of Austin Powder Company in Glenwillow

Glenwillow, Ohio

You might be unfamiliar with the Austin Powder Company, but if you’ve driven through the tiny village of Glenwillow, its history is everywhere to be seen.

Where is Glenwillow?

Nestled between Walton Hills, Solon, Reminderville, and Twinsburg, with Northfield to the southwest, Glenwillow takes up a small portion of the southeastern corner of Cuyahoga County. The area was pretty vacant back in the early 1890s when the Austin Powder Company started looking for a new location for their manufacturing plant.

Here’s how Glenwillow looked back in 1891:

The Austin Powder Company

As the name of the business implies, the Austin Powder Company made the black powder that went into explosives, such as the kind used to blast rock into small chunks that made mining for coal easier. Their manufactured powder was also used in sporting arms, also known as guns.

Since their product was highly combustible, it makes sense that their manufacturing plant needed to be in a less populated area. The Austin Powder Company, which has been in business since 1833 and is known as one of the oldest manufacturers of explosives in the entire world, chose Glenwillow as their newest location in 1890, and built a company town from scratch. Its location near railroad tracks played a part in the decision as well.

The Buildings in Glenwillow

When you walk through Glenwillow these days, you’ll see the still-standing structures of the general store, town hall, employee homes, and other necessities, including a school that was constructed on site. All are clustered on Pettibone Road and the appropriately named Austin Powder Drive. These buildings are painted white and stand out from the newer homes located to the north of the area.

Production in Glenwillow lasted until the 1970s, when a combination of aging infrastructure, encroaching homes and businesses, and the need for a larger manufacturing plant led to the creation of Red Diamond, the Austin Powder Company’s newest location in McArthur, Ohio. (They kept their headquarters in the Cleveland area, which is now located in Beachwood.)

Glenwillow Today

These days, Glenwillow remains a tiny, self-sufficient village. The remains of the Austin Powder Company-built town are part of an official historical site, and add to the overall charm of the small downtown area, gazebo-centered park, and historic train depot. If you’re interested in seeing what an old company town can turn into, feel free to check it out. You won’t be disappointed.