Libbey-Owens Sheet Glass of Toledo built a major glass factory in Kanawha City (Charleston) in 1916, and it opened the following year. After additions, it became the world’s largest sheet glass plant in 1923. After a 1930 merger, it became known as Libbey-Owens-Ford. It produced glass for buildings and cars, including all the flat glass for the Empire State Building (1930-31). The plant closed in 1980 due to global competition, and the site became a shopping center.

When the factory originally opened, it created many local jobs but replaced most traditional glassworkers at the time with machines.