Celebrating 150 Years

HALLTOWN PAPERBOARD MILL

Celebrating 150 Years

In July 1869, 10 years before the invention of the light bulb, the mill in Halltown, WV, became a fully operational paper board mill. Beginning as Eyster and Son and later known as Halltown Paper Board Co, the mill produced 6-tons of recycled material per day. It holds a rich history and a long-running contribution to employment in the area. Halltown Paper Board Mill is the oldest continuously operating industry in West Virginia and has never laid off an employee in 150 years.

Today’s paper process is much the same as in 1869, but that doesn’t mean the production process lacks science or needed skills to deliver a reliable and useful product. The mill workers are astute in their trade – mechanically inclined and solution-oriented. Many have entered into the industry to spend their entire careers producing a quality paper product, teaching others the trade skills, and leading teams through the process.

Many people marvel at the long-standing tradition of papermaking and the continuous operation of the mill. The lineage of strong leaders and dedicated and experienced employees led to the mill’s longevity. The Halltown Mill leadership has successfully focused attention on refining energy consumption and efficiency, assuring waste material was available for recycling. Leadership reinvested profits back into the mill for upgrading equipment while keeping a strategic perspective on the highs and lows of the industry.

From halls dimly lit with lanterns in 1869 to the 2018 conversion of coal energy to natural gas, the mill in Halltown has sustained the test of time. In its 150 years of operational life, the mill was challenged by the depression following the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War II, fires, two floods, robbery, the introduction of plastics, and massive shifts in society. The world around the mill exploded with technology, retail growth, and government expansion while it sat peacefully next to the railroad tracks on the Flowing Springs Run nestled between Harper’s Ferry and Charles Town, WV – steadfastly dedicated to making paper and taking care of people.

Halltown Paperboard Mill Today:

• Recycles 1.8 million gallons of water per day with zero discharge
• Recently converted from coal power to natural gas
• Produces over 120 tons of paperboard per day
• Employs over 70 people

Ownership Timeline: 

In the 150-year lifespan, the Halltown Paperboard Mill had only four groups of owners. Pictures of the original Eyster family still grace the mill offices and conference room walls, paying respect to the original ownership and the legacy they left to Halltown.