History of The Oswego Starch Factory, Oswego, N.Y. 1906

The Oswego Starch Factory,

City of Oswego, N.Y.

1906

Kingsford's Starch Factory, Oswego, N. Y., postmarked 1910

Famous the world over for its production of starch, Oswego owes its wide reputation for the manufacture of this commodity to the plant at present owned and operated by the National Starch Company. Kingsford's Silver Gloss Starch for laundry use and Corn Starch for food have been manufactured at Oswego since 1848, and these two products are now known as household words in every country in the world. From a small beginning a Bergen, New Jersey, in 1842, has grown up an industry of immense magnitude and Thomas Kingsford, who first invented a process for the manufacture of starch from maize, or Indian corn, was the founder of this great enterprise. After years of careful experiment in the manufacture of starch Mr. Kingsford built a small factory and established the business under the firm name of T. Kingsford & Son.

Oswego Starch Factory dated 1848. It was framed in 1874

In this little industry the long-cherished plans of its founder, a chemist of many years experience in the laboratories of William Colgate & Son, were successfully carried out. The new enterprise thrived from the start and for several years business was successfully conducted at Bergen until, on account of better facilities for the manufacture of this world renowned product, Messrs. Kingsford & Son removed to Oswego in 1848. New and suitable buildings were erected and the manufacture of starch was begun under the corporate name of The Oswego Starch Factory. The death of Thomas Kingsford occurred in 1869, the business then passing into the hands of his son, Thomson Kingsford.

Under his direction the industry attained a marvelous growth, the buildings having been seven times enlarged and today the factory with its adjuncts covers an area of over twenty acres. After building up the greatest starch industry in the world Thomson Kingsford died in 1900 and two years afterward The Oswego Starch Factory entered the combination of starch industries under the control of the National Starch Company.

This immense plant has been twice partially destroyed by fire and rebuilt in the most substantial manner. The main factory buildings, in which the starch is made and packed have 1,245 feet frontage on West First Street between Erie and Ohio Streets and extends back 200 feet to the Oswego River, which furnishes unceasing water power for the operation of the plant.

The factory is equipped with the most modern appliances for the manufacture of pure starch and a perfect product is insured by the use of an exhaustive process to eliminate every ingredient foreign to the pure and unexcelled Oswego Starch. The brands of starch for table use are superior to anything on the market, recommended and endorsed by leading physicians and chemists to be very nutritious. Brands for special purposes are made to meet ever need in which starch is required. These products are sold all around the world and the familiar packages with the impress of the American Eagle greet the traveler in every clime or country he may visit.

Source: Oswego Yesterday & Today, A Souvenir of the Celebration of Old
Home Week and of the Re-Garrisoning of Fort Ontario, published under the
auspices of The Chamber of Commerce, Oswego, NY, 1906.

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