With a history rich in the manufacturing industry, Moraine is more than just a small town in Ohio.
It has been home to the Moraine Assembly Plant for more than a century. The plant first housed the Speedwell Motor Car Company in 1907 and later rolled out Wright Model-B airplanes, Frigidaire appliances, Browning machine guns, General Motors' vehicles and much more.
The plant, located in Progress Park, will soon be home to Fuyao Glass, expected to open in 2015.
In addition to the assembly plant, several other businesses – some also founded before Moraine was incorporated – continue to succeed.
The Berry Network was founded in 1910.
Loren M. Berry pioneered the idea of selling advertising in telephone directories. The Berry Network was established as a subsidiary of The Berry Company in 1960 to provide Yellow Pages account services to national accounts. Currently they use this experience to provide clients with comprehensive local search marketing programs.
DP&L, formed in 1911, , serves more than 500,000 customers in 24 counties. The company has a long tradition of supporting their community with the Dayton Power and Light Company Foundation. The current building was opened for operations in 1955.
Established in 1960, the Hills and Dales Florist moved to a new location on Kettering Blvd. in 1982 and continues to grow and thrive, as does Frisch's restaurant; a fixture since 1964.
Milton Snyder founded the Snyder Concrete Company, Inc. in 1949. It remains family owned and operated and has expanded to include three manufacturing facilities with seven retail stores.
Ron Enderle owns the Dixie Dairy Dreem, which also opened before Moraine became incorporated.
The business operates in the original location on Dixie Drive and Enderle has invested in menu upgrades and facility improvements.
"We are still a 60-year-old business in a 60-year-old facility and we are very aware of Dreem history, therefore, during the remodels we tried to keep the look and memories alive."
While plans are not yet official, Enderle is considering offering historic prices as part of the 50-year celebration.
Enderle said the City has been very accommodating to the Dixie Dairy Dreem. He is "confident the area will return to the industrial hub it once was" and is looking forward to the opening of Fuyao Glass.
"We are a part of history," he said.
Learn even more about the 50-year-celebration from the City of Moraine.