Most of my loyal readers know Atlas Portland Cement Company in Northampton was once the largest in the world. They had a vision: construct a new cement plant adjacent to the Mississippi River. They started construction in 1901, completing a one-million-barrel plant in 1903. A second plant went into production in 1905 with a capacity of 2.6 million barrels.

Recently, Mr. Peter Paone of Bridge Gap Engineering visited Missouri and shared photographs of the present plant, owned by Continental Cement Company.

In 1901, the Atlas not only constructed a plant but also a company town.

The plant chemist named the town Ilasco, utilizing cement ingredients of I-iron, L-limestone, A-aluminum, S-silica, C-calcium and O-oxygen.

Just as the Atlas company did locally, recruiters were sent to eastern and southern Europe as a large labor force was required to operate the plants. Men as young as 16 came from Romania, Slovakia, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Croatia and Ukraine.

The new immigrants, unable to speak English, needed to live near the plant. Company housing was provided, and soon there were businesses and churches to serve the workers. At the town’s peak, 3,000 people resided there. Soon a post office, churches and even a jail became part of the landscape.

The immigrants retained their cultures, cuisine and traditions. They were proud to be Americans and wanted their children to have a good education, so they could take advantage of the opportunities available in a new land.

The Mississippi River provided a cheap form of transportation for moving cement. At the present Continental plant, a conveyor links the plant with the river.

The Atlas plant, as well as others, suffered during recessions and the Great Depression. Over the years, families left the town to seek employment elsewhere.

Ilasco was four miles south of Hannibal, Mo. In 1958, the dwindling community voted to consolidate their schools with the Hannibal School District. The town’s schools closed and, sadly, were torn down.

The company had provided homeowners with favorable leases. In 1962, the company decided not to renew land leases and offered to purchase homes not on company land.

The state constructed Highway 79 through the center of the old cement town, and a way of life that brought hard-working immigrants to America was gone.

It reminds me of former company homes at Ormrod, Dewey Heights, Penn Dixie, the Phoenix in Nazareth and the New Jersey Zinc in Palmerton.

Little remains of Ilasco today. Monuments, a walk of memories and photographs “cement” the past, welcoming visitors. They tell the story of a former cement company and their dedicated employees.

We thank Mr. Paone of Bridge Gap Engineering, Northampton, for sharing his visit to Hannibal with our readers.