tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8265508908542734623.post6341449247640475178..comments2023-09-16T10:45:58.907-05:00Comments on Big River Mercantile : The Strange Story of John Meck As A Young Mandnsimons46http://www.blogger.com/profile/08120538964826209151noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8265508908542734623.post-63282378110703025742020-11-26T12:17:32.908-06:002020-11-26T12:17:32.908-06:00I am somewhat familiar with John Meck Industries, ...I am somewhat familiar with John Meck Industries, located on Pennsylvania Avenue in Plymouth, Indiana, as my mother (now age 91) worked there during World War II. When the war broke out, Meck started making communication radios for the military to use on the battlefields, and this prompted my mother to join the war effort.<br /><br />I had the privilege of meeting and interviewing Mr. Meck's son (probably named John Meck, Jr.) when I worked at "The Pilot-News" of Plymouth, Indiana from 1992-96. The date of the interview and published article probably was June 1995 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. Mr. Meck told me how he as a very young man had helped his father in operating the factory for many years.<br /><br />About 1954 another company bought the business and changed the name to Wagner Industries, but it commonly was known as "the wire factory." The business continued, and it was known as United Technologies during the 1970s and beyond. When the factory closed, I tried working with local officials to turn the building into a community center and war museum because of the war effort the factory had served during WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam. Tragically, an arsonist destroyed the building during this time of negotiation. The grounds still are well kept so that they serve as a special memory of the people who worked there. I hope this information is helpful and interesting to anyone wanting to know more about Meck radios and the John Meck Industries of Plymouth, Indiana.Sheila Beershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10326327025888235150noreply@blogger.com