Pittsburgh Grease Plant: Lubricating the War Effort

Just off the Ohio River here stood one of the most unglamorous but essential factories of the twentieth century. The Pittsburgh Grease Plant was founded in the late eighteen hundreds, manufacturing the lubricating compounds that kept industrial machinery, railroads, and vehicles running.

By World War Two, the plant had become a strategic asset. It is said to have produced a special formulation called Eisenhower grease, named for the Supreme Allied Commander, that was used to keep military vehicles and artillery operating in the European theater. The plant later became part of Standard Oil of New Jersey and remained in operation for more than a century. Pittsburgh made steel, but steel without grease seizes up. This plant made sure it did not.