Editorial: Westinghouse played key role in Mansfield economy

News last week that the old Westinghouse factory would be torn down drew mixed emotion. But after an initial sigh of reflection passed, there was a general feeling that it’s past time to say farewell to this Mansfield landmark.

There is no word yet on what will take it’s place, but anyone with a sense of value will agree that removing this Goliath makes the acreage far more valuable.

News Journal columnist, Ron Simon, recently described the old factory as a “huge, humpbacked whale of a structure.”

And reporter Lou Whitmire said the building reminded a lot of people of better days, of high employment in the city.

During the 1940s the plant employed more than 8,000 people, and for a time was the largest employer in Mansfield.

The factory finally closed in 1990 after 50 years of producing Westinghouse firsts: the fully automatic electric range, an upright freezer and a frost-free refrigerator.

Thanks to Westinghouse and others, Mansfield became known as a major player in the world economy.

Times changed and one by one the factories closed.

Now, as developers remove these decaying structures, Mansfield once again finds itself with an opportunity to redefine itself in a leaner economy.

As we bid farewell to this landmark that through the years provided a living to so many in Mansfield, we remain hopeful that others will see Mansfield’s value.