The Duplan Silk Mill On Diamond Avenue - Greater Hazleton Historical Society

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The former Duplan Silk Mill, located on E. Diamond Avenue, was once the largest silk mill in the world.

Its location in Hazleton serves as an example of the offers made to prospective businesses. Jean L. Duplan, a French textile magnate, visited the city in 1898 while on a tour of potential locations for his first silk mill in the United States.

He ruled out Hazleton after visiting the mill’s proposed location. The proposed (and current) site was a muddy tract of land scarred by mine cave-ins. Duplan was also turned off by the open sewer that ran through the property and feared that Hazleton’s high altitude would negatively impact the making of fine silk fabric.

Board of Trade representatives responded to Duplan’s reluctance by starting an ambitious fund-raising drive.

Contributions from individuals poured in, ranging from $200 to pennies. The Lehigh Valley Railroad donated $5,000. Local banks issued $40,000 worth of bonds to cover the construction costs.

Duplan changed his mind, and by 1925 the silk mill employed over 3,000 workers.

By 1953, silk was in less demand as synthetic fabrics became increasingly popular, pantyhose were now made from nylon, and wartime production for silk parachutes had ceased.

That year, the Duplan Silk Corp. closed its Hazleton plant, ending 54 years of producing silk cloth in what once was the world's largest silk mill.