From 1916 to 1970, the Marietta Manufacturing Company (MMC) was a major shipbuilder and employer in Point Pleasant. The company began in Ohio but moved to Point Pleasant after a flood in 1913. It quickly grew, especially during World Wars I and II, building ships and boats for the U.S. military and employing thousands, including many women during WWII.

After the war, MMC made barges, coal equipment, and Navy ships. A tragic explosion in 1953 killed six workers. The company’s work continued into the 1960s, but it mainly focused on repairs in its final years. MMC closed in 1970, and although another company briefly reopened the plant, it shut down again in 1984. The loss of MMC was a major economic hit to the community.