Winchester Arms

The leading gun manufacturer was founded in 1866 with fewer than 100 workers. During World War II Winchester employed 19,000 people at its peak. Having lost $25 million in production due to repeated strikes, the firearm production assets were sold to its workers in 1980, forming a new company, the U.S. Repeating Arms Co. Bankruptcy hit in 1989, which led to the company being sold, twice, and in 2006 the 400,000-square-foot facility finally closed after 140 years of production due profitability issues. Buildings have since been demolished, repurposed as housing, office space and biotech firms while parts still remain vacant.