Harnessing Technology

What affect has modern industry had on its community? As industries became more technology based the physical workload lightened and dependency on the family and land for survival eased. Today, Southeast is a bedroom community with many of its residents commuting by train to New York City.  Manufacturing industries residing in Southeast today are on the cutting edge of the computer, plastics and film industries. 

 The following are examples of the types of industries in Southeast today:

 Miggins Screw Products, Inc.

 Founded in 1953 by John Joseph Miggins, the company began as Miggins Body Works on Route 6, with one old rebuilt Brown and Sharpe machine. In the 1950's Miggins' primary customer was Heat X Inc. Miggins provided Heat X, Inc. with machined parts for their cooling system.

During World War II, John J. Miggins worked on the Manhattan Project in Oakridge, Tennessee. After the war he founded Miggins Body Works.

 Today, Miggins Screw Products employs ten workers, making machined parts for the medical, aircraft, high voltage testing equipment and communication industries. When Mr. Miggins passed away in 1995, Merle Delfay, Mr. Miggins' daughter, took over the running of the business.

Dunmore Corporation, Engineered Coated and Laminated Films

 In 1989 Dunmore purchased its Brewster, New York plant from Camvac. This acquisition has brought new talents and new approaches to the business. The Brewster plant currently employs sixty employees.

 Dunmore Corporation has a proud history of growth and innovation in the plastic film industry. Dunmore began operations in 1970 in Kenilworth, New Jersey. The Company has consistently utilized its research, engineering and other resources to design and construct its own plant and equipment (including the world's largest film vacuum metallizer, 81 inches wide in 1974).

 Dunmore serves the following markets:

• Aerospace
• Garland/Ribbons
• Graphic Arts and Imaging
• Packaging
• Leather, Metal, Wood and Plastic Finishing
• Brewster Plastics, Inc.

Brewster Plastics

n 1971 Brewster Plastics started as an engineering consulting service in a garage in Brewster, NY.  The first years were spent in the designing and building of specialty assembly machinery for local industries. By 1974 the company began to concentrate in the design and building of plastic injection molds.  In 1975 the first molding machine was purchased and the company was awarded a major contract from Heli Coil Products Corporation.

Space restraints dictated a move in 1979 to the old Juengst factory at the southern end of Brewster. Within a year the 100 year old building was reconditioned and housed five modern molding machines and a sizeable, machine shop employing four moldmakers.

By 1997 the company had grown so large they moved into a new building to accommodate all functions of the company from the office to engineering, molding, assembly and finishing. Brewster Plastics normally operates on a twenty-four hour day, five days a week schedule and employs approximately forty-five full time employees.

Brewster Plastics manufactures injection molding for the following  companies:

• CSC
• Winding Corp
• Heli Coil Products Group
• Multiplier Industries
• Pneumadyne
• Pepsi Cola
• Clix Products
• Prestone
• Dyeables

Dyeables was established in 1982.  The company manufactures and dyes shoes and handbags. They currently have factories in Maine and China. In 1997 Dyeables moved to Southeast, NY.  The Southeast facility employees fifty workers.

Powers Fastening, Inc.

Powers Fastening, Inc. manufactures drilling and anchoring systems. Originally founded as the Rawlplug Company in 1921, the company's namesake (a jute fiber anchor) quickly became the industry favorite for light to medium duty applications.  Mechanical concrete and masonry anchoring products were the mainstays of the Powers Rawl product line, but now the company leads the industry in roofing fasteners, adhesive anchoring systems, and matched tolerance carbide drill bits.

The following are examples of the company's products:

• Mechanical Anchors
• Adhesive Anchors
• Roofing Fasteners
• Carbide Drills

Spooky Cycles

In college, Kevin Hopkins and a friend named "Spooky" began making T-shirts in the late 1990's.  Unsatisfied with the performance of their bikes, the two began designing and assembling their own bikes under the business name Spooky Cycles. "Spooky" left the business and soon Frank Wattleton began working with the company.

Spooky Cycles has five main employees and hires part-time workers as needed.  Spooky makes around 1500 bikes a year at an average cost of $2,500.

Our Sense of Place

When Southeast students were asked what community means to them, they responded with painted murals, photograph collages and drawings of historic sites, homes, churches, and ballfields.  These places make up the essence of community to Southeast's younger residents. You can view some of their work here.