Lost Legacy: The American Record Pressing Company in Owosso, Michigan
The American Record Pressing Company in Owosso, Michigan, played a significant role in the music industry, particularly during the mid-60s Beatlemania era. This record plant, located at 1810 W. King Street, produced 45s and long play records, including albums and singles by The Beatles on the VeeJay label. Unfortunately, the plant burned down on Oct. 30, 1972, destroying everything inside.
Owosso holds the distinction of being the site of the very first pressings of a Beatles record in America. The American Record Pressing Company was responsible for producing the initial American release of the Beatles' "Please, Please Me" in 1963, before Beatlemania swept the globe. Interestingly, a rare early pressing of the record from this plant misspelled the Beatles' name as "Beattles," making it a valuable collector's item today.
Despite the plant's destruction in 1972, remnants of its legacy can still be found in the empty field where it once stood. Visitors have reported discovering pieces of old vinyl records scattered among the overgrown vegetation. The former address of 1810 W. King Street no longer exists, but the field remains a tangible reminder of the American Record Pressing Company's contribution to music history.