Elmira Coca-Cola Bottling Company Works

Elmira Coca-Cola Bottling Company Works

The Elmira Coca-Cola Bottling Company Works is a historic industrial complex located in Elmira, New York. It was built in 1939 and served as a bottling plant for the Coca-Cola Company until its closure in 1973. Today, the site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a popular destination for history enthusiasts.

History

The Elmira Coca-Cola Bottling Company Works was established in 1939 to meet the growing demand for Coca-Cola products in the Elmira area. The plant was strategically located near the railroad tracks, allowing for easy transportation of raw materials and finished products.

During its operation, the plant employed hundreds of workers and produced millions of bottles of Coca-Cola each year. The bottling process involved cleaning and sterilizing the bottles, filling them with Coca-Cola syrup, carbonating the beverage, and finally sealing the bottles with caps.

Architecture

The architecture of the Elmira Coca-Cola Bottling Company Works is a fine example of industrial design from the 1930s. The building features a combination of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne styles, characterized by sleek lines, curved corners, and geometric patterns.

The main building of the complex is a two-story structure with large windows that allowed natural light to illuminate the production floor. The interior of the building was designed to maximize efficiency, with separate areas for each stage of the bottling process.

Closure and Preservation

In 1973, the Elmira Coca-Cola Bottling Company Works ceased its operations due to changes in the Coca-Cola Company's distribution strategy. The plant was left abandoned for several years until it was purchased by a local preservation group in the 1990s.

Since then, the site has undergone extensive restoration efforts to preserve its historic significance. The main building has been converted into a museum, showcasing the history of the Coca-Cola bottling process and its impact on the local community.

See also

• Coca-Cola
• Elmira, New York

External links

• Official website of the Elmira Coca-Cola Bottling Company Works
• Photo gallery of the Elmira Coca-Cola Bottling Company Works