Founded in 1878 by Simon Seward, the

Petersburg, Virginia Petersburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,458. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines Petersburg (along with the city of Colonial Heights) with Din ...

-based Seward Trunk Co. was once the nation's largest manufacturer of steamers, trunks, footlockers, and other

luggage Baggage or luggage consists of bags, cases, and containers which hold a traveler's personal articles while the traveler is in transit. A modern traveler can be expected to have packages containing clothing, toiletries, small possessions, trip ...

. In 1967, Seward was purchased by the Dayco Corporation, the former Dayton Rubber Company, of

Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater ...

. The company is now a unit of Advantus, Corp. of Jacksonville, Florida which purchased the former owner, Mercury Luggage(also of Jacksonville) in 2016. Seward trunks are sold by fine retailers throughout the USA. The former Seward luggage factory at 422-424 High Street in Petersburg is on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artist ...

and was under renovation for residences, the first of which opened in 2006. The second phase of the project would have included both residential and commercial space. On January 16, 2018, at 5a.m, the old building suffered a massive fire and burned down.

External links

Mercury Luggage Corporate SiteStory on Condominium ProjectSamsonite carry on luggage
{{Jacksonville Corporations Companies based in Jacksonville, Florida American companies established in 1878 History of Dayton, Ohio Luggage manufacturers 1878 establishments in Virginia