History of
Bristolpipe
503 E. Vistula St.
Bristol, Indiana 46507
Bristol Trailer Plumbing
Started by Bob Brown 1947 in a yellow 2-story building on corner SR 15 North & Vistula, where the Speedway station (formerly Amoco) is today.
Glenn Brown took over in 1953
Bob's brother Glenn bought and grew the company into a leading national distributor/manufacturer of plumbing products, pipes and fixtures. In 1954 the company moved across the street to what was then a Nash dealership, the present location.
A toilet called the Bristol
They specialized in prefab drainage systems until the 1950's, and then expanded into a line of of house-type plumbing for RV's, and a toilet named after the Town.
Name change to Bristolpipe and switch to plastic pipe in the 60's
As they grew, they couldn't get enough metal. They bought equipment and by 1968 were producing plastic pipe.
Ownership changes began in 1959
In the years that followed, there were more changes Bristolpipe became a division of LaSalle Bristol. In 2004, Westlake Chemical acquired the business and 3 manufacturing plants in Bristol, Georgia and Pennsylvania, employing a total of 200 employees.
Glenn Brown died May, 1995.
His widow, Chris and their three daughters still live in the Bristol area.
End of a era: closing of former Bristolpipe plant
The news that the Bristol site, one of the Town's oldest employers, was shutting down and laying off 25 workers now and likely the remaining 6 once the site is completely idled, was not entirely unexpected. When the plant was acquired by Westlake Chemical in 2004, some wondered what the future might hold. The downturn in the economy was apparently enough to render the plant redundant.
The day after the announcement on Oct. 20, 2009, two Bristol police cars and officers were stationed there. According to Marshall Mike Swallow, the Company has hired off-duty officers to help in insuring a smooth transition during the difficult days ahead.
"We regret to see any business close, especially one that has provided employment to our community for so many years. We realize that time marches on, and we pledge to work to find new opportunities to replace this loss," said Tom Stutsman, Town Council President.
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