Wheaton Glass

New Jersey has a rich industrial heritage dating all the way back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Most historians will rightly point out the iron and copper mining and manufacturing that occurred up north, South Jersey had a blossoming industry of its own; glass manufacturing. The cheap, durable material was being used in products all throughout the American Industrial Revolution. One South Jersey pharmacist capitalized on the high quality sand deposits of Millville for a side venture of his own. 

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Dr. T.C. Wheaton established his glassmaking venture in 1888. His primary intent was to make bottles for his own products, but the business was so sucessful he ended up significantly expanding the operation.

Wheaton opened a second plant along the Vineland Secondary railroad to increase production and diversify his product line to collectable bottles and art glass.

The company embraced automation in favor of traditional manpower which allowed them to thrive in the following decades, even through the great depression. By the 1950s the company made another smart move, embracing a newly developed technology, plastic. The company acquired the old Woods Cotton Mill in nearby Mays Landing and retrofitted the property to accommodate the new line od products. 

American manufacturing shifted heavily in the coming years as other nations industrialized and the US embraced global trade. By 2006 the brand underwent a major restructuring. Despite returning to their roots, the newly incorporated Wheaton Science Products closed the third street plant.

The loss of the plant was devastating for the local economy. After more than ten years languishing in the fallout, city leaders took action. In a drastic and unprecedented move, the entire city of Millville was declared an "area in need of redevelopment".

That same year a tentative agreement was reached with the DeSantis group to redevelop the Third Street site as a plastic recycling facility. This plan actually involved the renovation and reuse of several Wheaton buildings. Due to the scope of the project the city had a list of deadlines the developer had to meet to show he wasn't going to continue to let the property languish. The DeSantis group failed to meet those deadlines, so the city took the property back. DeSantis didn't appreciate the move, so by 2021 they were embroiled in a heated legal battle with the city. 

Eventually the two parties found an amicable path forward. Instead of a plastic recycling facility, the group would build a massive refrigerated warehouse on the site. Unfortunately, the plan involved the total demolition of all the historic Wheaton buildings. 

By 2025 the site was cleared and ready for the warehouse. While I'm grateful to see the site put back to productive use I hope some homage is paid to it's history. The lanscape of Millville, and potentially all of South Jersey would look a lot different without Dr. T.C. Carson and his glassware.