Keasbey and Mattison Company
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Asbestos-based construction materials manufacturing |
| Founded | 1873 |
| Founder | Henry Griffith Keasbey, Richard Van Zeelust Mattison |
| Defunct | 1934 |
| Fate | Acquired by Turner & Newall |
| Headquarters | Ambler, Pennsylvania , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Asbestos insulation, shingles, roofing tiles, asbestos cement shingles, treated lumber, brake linings |
Number of employees | 900 (1920) |
Keasbey and Mattison Company was an industrial manufacturer focused on producing asbestos-based construction materials, such as insulation and shingles. Established in 1873 by entrepreneur Henry Griffith Keasbey alongside chemist Richard Van Zeelust Mattison, the enterprise moved its operations to Ambler, Pennsylvania, in 1881. By the time of World War I, Ambler had gained recognition as the "asbestos capital of the world." In 1934, Turner & Newall acquired Keasbey and Mattison.
History
Initially operating out of Philadelphia, the firm produced patent medicines. However, Mattison’s innovation—combining magnesium carbonate with asbestos to insulate steam pipes—redirected the company’s focus toward asbestos products. Ambler was strategically selected due to its railroad connections, which eased the importation of raw asbestos from Quebec and access to local magnesium carbonate deposits. By 1883, the first factory was constructed adjacent to the railway.
Keasbey and Mattison emerged as Ambler’s leading employer. Mattison invested substantially in community development by establishing worker housing, administrative offices, retail shops, a library, an opera house, and Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church. Additionally, he owned local utilities and played a key role in Ambler’s incorporation as a borough. His residence, Lindenwold Castle, displayed European artisanal craftsmanship imported for its construction.
Following Keasbey’s retirement in 1892, Mattison expanded production capabilities by acquiring the Bell mine in Thetford Mines, Quebec in 1906 and another mine located in Bear Canyon, Arizona in 1928. These sources provided chrysotile asbestos that was transported to Ambler for processing into various products. By 1896, the facility manufactured roofing tiles, papers, pipe insulation coverings, and operated the nation’s first asbestos textile manufacturing plant. By 1905, production extended to asbestos cement shingles branded as "Century Asbestos Slate," later adding treated lumber and brake linings for automobiles.
In 1920, the workforce numbered approximately 900 employees while drawing considerable water volume from Wissahickon Creek. Although some safety measures were implemented—such as color-coded piping for water systems and on-site medical personnel—waste management practices raised environmental issues. The company’s disposal site expanded to cover about 2.5 acres adjacent to its manufacturing plant.
Workplace conditions exposed laborers to dangerous asbestos fibers without sufficient ventilation or protective equipment—a circumstance indicative of limited understanding regarding asbestos hazards at that time.
In 1921, Keasbey and Mattison briefly owned the Hope Lodge estate but sold it after discovering limestone deposits on the property.
The economic downturn during the Great Depression adversely impacted company finances; by 1931 bankers assumed control after Keasbey sold his half-interest for $4 million shortly before the 1929 market crash. The Keasbey family established scholarships through the Henry and Anna Griffith Keasbey Foundation aimed at supporting education in Britain.
Turner & Newall managed operations at the Ambler facility until 1962 when CertainTeed Corporation and Nicolet Industries purchased the site. The property was divided between continued asbestos product manufacturing and automotive parts production.
Federal-Mogul acquired Turner & Newall in 1998 but later filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to liabilities stemming from asbestos-related lawsuits.
Beginning in 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) undertook a comprehensive cleanup of asbestos waste at the site by capping waste piles and stabilizing nearby waterways. The BoRit Asbestos site was listed on the Superfund National Priorities List in 2009.
In 2013, redevelopment transformed the original Keasbey & Mattison Boiler House into a LEED Platinum Certified multi-tenant office building known as the Ambler Boiler House. This adaptive reuse project incorporated sustainable technologies such as geothermal heating and cooling, solar panels, grey-water recycling systems, and high-performance glazing. The $16 million renovation received support from EPA Brownfields and EnergyWorks initiatives.