Candle-lite in Leesburg celebrates 175 years with help of local, state and national officials
Candle-lite employees and special guests were invited to celebrate The Candle-lite Company’s 175th anniversary with a historic celebration and Candle-lite Family Festival at the Leesburg factory on Saturday, July 25.
As one of the largest employers in Highland County, the Candle-lite Company has been producing high-quality candles since 1840. Small-town values coupled with superior workmanship over the last 175 years have garnered the attention of key government and business leaders nationwide.
Among those expected to be in attendance are: U.S. House Speaker John A. Boehner, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, Congressman Brad Wenstrup, Speaker of the Ohio House Cliff Rosenberger, State Sen. Bob Peterson, Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeff Duncan, Leesburg Mayor Danny Daulton and others.
Rep. Boehner will be on hand to deliver remarks regarding Candle-lite’s economic impact on the state of Ohio. Executives from Walmart including Greg Foran, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., will be receiving the Candle-lite Lifetime Economic Development Award for more than 30 years of partnership.
The event is not open to the public.
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According to its website at http://www.candle-lite.com/: “Candle-lite has long been recognized as the leader in the decorative candle manufacturing industry. Our history is as interesting as the depth and breadth of our current candle product line.
“Candle-lite's roots go back to the year 1840, when an English settler by the name of Thomas Emery traveled door to door selling candles and numerous other household items. His venture continued to grow and eventually, his son, Thomas Jr., and his wife, Mary, furthered the expansion by moving the candle manufacturing facility to the Cincinnati suburb of Mariemont. The company was known then as The Emery Candle Division of Emery Industries.
“The Emery Family maintained control of the business until 1952, when Al Levinson and John Magro purchased the candle business, renamed the company Candle-lite and moved the entire operation to Leesburg. In 1972 Candle-lite was acquired by Lancaster Colony Corporation. As of Jan. 31, 2014, Candle-lite was acquired by Centre Lane Partners. The extensive line of Candle-lite products can be found in major retailers across the United States and Canada and in many fine stores throughout the world market.”
“We look forward to Candle-lite’s 175th anniversary,” Commissioner Wilkin said.