The Jackson area experienced an industrial metamorphous in the 1960s that changed its industrial landscape forever. As the first 50 years of the 20th century were winding down, three of the main employers in the Jackson area were nearing the end of their run. Globe Iron Furnace closed in 1960, JISCO ended operations in 1969 and the D. T. and I Car Shops began to phase out their operations in the early 1970s.

The first major change came on April 24, 1950, when the Jackson City Council passed necessary legislation to allow for the sale of bonds for the construction of a building to house a production facility for the Hercules Trouser Company. Officials a month earlier had approved the South Bennett Avenue property for the site.

The factory began operations in the fall of 1951, with primarily a female workforce, and remained in operation until 1960, when operations were moved to Arkansas.

It should be noted that another important development in the fall of 1951 was the passage of a bond issue by the voters in November for the construction of Hammertown Lake, the city's water reservoir that has been vital in the food production business in Jackson.

On July 28, 1961, the Jackson Area Chamber Of Commerce announced that a new firm, called Jackson Corporation, was locate in the former Hercules Trouser Company building and would begin the manufacturing of plastic products by September 1, 1961.

The actual production of plastic items on South Bennett Avenue began in 1962, expanding their initial location in 1965 and constructing a second building in 1973, which now serves as the facility for all of their production.

The Jackson Plastics Corporation has employed more than 200 during its peak employment, but as the current producers of plastic items for use in hotel rooms, their production and employment levels suffered with the downtown in the tourism industry after the 9/11 disaster.

Another big change came in September, 1957 when Chun King Corporation began the production of the oriental food at the site of a former furnace company, a location that is utilized today by the same owner, Jeno Paulucci, as its base of production for Luigino's, makers of the Michelina's brand product. That business is now known as Bellisio Foods, Inc.

In July, 1961, one week prior to the announcement concerning the Jackson Corporation plastics plant, the Ohio Fire Brick Co. announced it would construct a new brick plant on then State Route 124, three miles west of Jackson.

That facility still provides employment today through AluChem.

In the mid-1960s, the Jackson Community Improvement Corporation formed to try and lure industry to the Jackson area.

In 1964, Goodyear officials announced they would locate in Jackson, initially producing agricultural products. Soon afterwards, though, Goodyear began manufacturing items for the automobile and heavy truck industries, a product that has been a staple of the Jackson operation, that, until 2007, was operated by Meridian Automotive Industries.

The first product was produced in July, 1966 and in 1969, the company completed a $1.2 million expansion, which was dedicated by a visit from Gov. James A. Rhodes. They have had additional expansions in 1974, 1988 and again in the 1990s since that time.

Also in 1966, the Ohio Stove Company, based out of Portsmouth, began a Jackson division on Athens Street at the location of the old Crown Pipe And Foundry. They began by making pistons for compressors for the refrigeration industry, but since have changed their name to OSCO, Inc. and manufacturers scroll compressor components.

The Crown Pipe And Foundry began production on May 27, 1902, but had many problems beginning in the late 1940s and on May 25, 1956, operations were suspended following a two-week strike by 200 workers and Ohio Stove Company bought the facility on July 23, 1965.

Although located in Wellston, another big step forward for the Jackson County industrial community came on May 2, 1968 when the Ralston-Purina Company dedicated its newly built facility. This facility has seen several owners, including Banquet Foods, then Jeno's, Inc., followed by Pillsbury in 1985, which was merged into General Mills shortly after the turn of the century.

Currently, the General Mills facility and Luigino's are the two largest employers in Jackson County, both employing more than 1,000 employees each.

In 1976, the final large piece to the puzzle was added.

Orville and Ruth Merillat, owners of the Merillat Industries, makers of kitchen and other cabinets, broke ground in August, 1976 for the Jackson frame plant with production beginning a year later.

The Jackson plant became the first satellite plant and it was Orville's vision to locate component plants strategically to provide the red oak structural parts to fuel his cabinet assembly operations. Jackson was selected due to its proximity to the Appalachian hardwood forests and the availability of a ready and capable workforce.

The first manager was a former local resident, John Brunton, who guided the plant through its formative years and now there is a workforce of more than 500 working around the clock.

The differences from the beginning to the end of the 20th century, like most other areas, were the difference between night and day, and the complete metamorphous has hopefully provided a never-ending light to the end of the tunnel for Jackson County and its residents.