31/07/2025
The pillow factory — a not so fluffy job!
While readers are most likely aware the nation’s very first theme park is located in Santa Claus, Indiana, many may not know that at one time that very same theme park also housed a pillow factory.
Yes, you read that right, a pillow factory — one that employed a large number of (mostly) ladies.
And while the pillow factory is no more, that it ever existed to begin with is a tale that should be told.
By all accounts, industrialist Louis J. Koch was a kind and brilliant man.
He was the Koch who created the world’s first theme park as a retirement project because it bothered him that Santa Claus was visited by children who were disappointed when they discovered Santa was not there.
Santa Claus Land opened August 3, 1946.
While Louis was a kind-hearted guy, he was also a businessman and apparently a genius. He invented a process to make paint adhere to metal — something that hadn’t existed before, and the company began manufacturing brass vanity chairs.
Each came with a pillow to top the metal seat. Now we’re getting there!
They also made other brass and wrought iron furniture like love seats and other chairs. But the furniture all requiring a cushioned seat.
According to sisters Barbara Mohr and Judy Klueh — who both worked at the pillow factory — the pillows could be made from corduroy, satin, vinyl, velvet or fille (bengaline, which according to Barbara was like twill).
While this has not been officially confirmed it would appear that Santa Claus Land was not only the world’s very first theme park, it was also the only amusement park with a working factory on the grounds.
Barbara does not report how long it took her to reach the perfection Virginia demanded of the 30 employees under her care.
Whether they ever snuck out during lunch to ride a ride was not mentioned, although the rides at that time were designed for tiny tots.
Initially all the pillow makers wore uniforms. Pillows require stuffing so the box truck would deliver big bales of Kapock — essentially cotton batting. They also used ground up foam.
Fifteen sewing machines would buzz throughout the day as pillows were made.
“Everyone was so dedicated,” says Pat Koch. “We had such great employees.”
As with all good things, eventually the desire for vanity chairs and other metal furniture waned and the pillow factory closed in 1964 or ‘65. Still, many people still have their vanity chairs, a remnant of the past, including both Judy Klueh and Barbara Mohr — both of whom have fond memories of their jobs at the pillow factory.
So now you have it — the story of an industry that has come and gone but where many memories were made — along with thousands and thousands of pillows!
Story by Kathy Tretter
Photos submitted
