Catherine A. Tisinger, Phoenix Rising: A 20th Century Valley Tale, One Manufacturing Plant and Three Owners

Containers:

Box 4, Folder 26

Creator:

Tisinger, Catherine A.

Scope and content:

Describes the history of Avtex Fibers, Inc., a major defense materials manufacturer, located in Front Royal, Virginia. Founded in 1937, by the American Viscose Corporation, (AVC), the plant produced numerous rayon-based products for the U.S. government during World War II. In the post-war years the company was sold to the Food Machines Corporation, (FMC), in 1963, which produced materials for the Space Program and the aerospace industry. The Avtex Fibers bought the company in 1976, but within a decade, highly toxic waste disposal problems landed the company on the federal Superfund cleanup list. Citing numerous violations of the federal Environmental Protection Act and Virginia Water Control legislation, the facility was summarily closed by state officials in 1989. Environmental clean up efforts over the following decade have rehabilitated the 300 acre site to the point where local and state authorities can contemplate the future of this controversial Virginia landmark.

Names:

Avtex Fibers Inc.
American Viscose Corporation
Food Machinery Corporation
Avtex Fibers Inc.
American Viscose Corporation
Food Machinery Corporation
Tisinger, Catherine A.

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