The Williamsburg Soap and Candle Company, known to millions as just the "candle factory", was located in the Norge section of

James City County, Virginia James City County is a county (United States), county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 78,254. Although politically separate from the county, the county seat is the ad ...

. The factory was famous for making quality

soap Soap is a salt (chemistry), salt of a fatty acid (sometimes other carboxylic acids) used for cleaning and lubricating products as well as other applications. In a domestic setting, soaps, specifically "toilet soaps", are surfactants usually u ...

and

candle A candle is an ignitable candle wick, wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a Aroma compound, fragrance. A candle can also provide heat or a method of keeping time. ...

s. At one time, the Williamsburg Candle Soap and Candle Co. was a major supplier of candles around the world both under their label as well as private label candles for companies such as Estee Lauder, Pottery Barn and others. They were known for their fine quality candles that were dripless and clean burning. All of the candles were made at the on-site manufacturing plant, and all of the candle-making equipment was designed and built by its owners and employees.Bradshaw, Nancy Smith and Frances Huckstep Hamilton. (1989) ''Velkommen til Norge: A Pictorial History of Norge, Virginia'' Customers could view the products being made through a glass window in the store; and were allowed to dip their own candles.

History

20th century foundation and development

The Williamsburg Soap and Candle Company first opened in 1965. It was located near the

Williamsburg Pottery Factory Williamsburg Pottery Factory is a large, multi-structure retail outlet store located in Lightfoot, Virginia, Lightfoot, Virginia, about west of Williamsburg, Virginia, Williamsburg. It was founded in 1938 by James E. Maloney as a small pottery wo ...

and was a local icon and popular

tourist attraction A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement. Types Places of natural beaut ...

on the road to Williamsburg. It was founded by John Barnett, Sr., who moved a

barn A barn is an agricultural building usually on farms and used for various purposes. In North America, a barn refers to structures that house livestock, including cattle and horses, as well as equipment and fodder, and often grain.Allen G ...

from a nearby

farm A farm (also called an agricultural holding) is an area of land that is devoted primarily to agricultural processes with the primary objective of producing food and other crops; it is the basic facility in food production. The name is used fo ...

and made it the first building of a complex which contained the manufacturing plant, numerous shops, and a restaurant.

21st century bankruptcy and aftermath

Williamsburg Soap and Candle Company suffered greatly from the drop in tourism after 9/11/01 and from the pressure of cheap Chinese imports. These and other factors ultimately led to its closure in 2005. The company assets were sold at auction. Much of their equipment was purchased by ''Buyacandle.com''. The land was sold to a local developer. The Candle Factory Restaurant remained, and renamed itself the Candle Light Restaurant. A few new stores moved into the vacant factory store fronts but never prospered. The restaurant, along with most of the shops, were forced to close because the space was bought by a large store of a pharmaceutical chain in 2008. In 2011, the entire right side of the complex was demolished to make room for the new building. The left side of the complex, which includes the original barn, remain. The Candle Light Restaurant reopened in mid-2011 on the remaining side but went out of business in late 2013.

References

External links

Woodwick CandlesDiors Scented CandlesNatural Scented Candles
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williamsburg Soap And Candle Factory Candles Buildings and structures in James City County, Virginia American companies established in 1965 American companies disestablished in 2005 1965 establishments in Virginia 2005 disestablishments in Virginia Defunct manufacturing companies based in Virginia