WILSON BOROUGH, Pa. – It’s the end of an era for a landmark that has been a part of the Lehigh Valley skyline for decades.
On Thursday, the iconic 50,000 gallon Dixie Cup from the roof of the historic Dixie Cup Factory will be lowered from the rooftop of the former Dixie Cup factory at 12 S. 24th Street in Wilson Borough, according to officials.
The factory has been a beloved regional landmark since it opened in 1921, when founder Hugh Moore selected the Wilson Borough site for a new manufacturing facility after the company outgrew its New York City operations, Skyline Investment Group officials said in a news release.
The facility produced Dixie Cups until it was shuttered in the early 1980s, after which it sat vacant for more than four decades.
The building was recently named to the National Register of Historic Places — a designation that both honors its architectural and cultural legacy, according to officials.
Historic elements of the building will be preserved and restored as part of the project, the news release details.
When complete, the development — to be known as “1921 Dixie Avenue” — will feature 412 apartments, a movie theater, indoor golf and pickleball, podcast space, and a community gathering area that will display the original Dixie Cup as a centerpiece exhibit, according to developers.
“This isn’t just about salvaging an old factory — it’s about embracing sustainability while honoring the building’s architectural legacy,” said Brian Bartee, managing partner of Skyline Investment Group. “This is a new chapter for a building that our entire community has held close for over 100 years.”
For anyone interested in attending the lowering, the event will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursday.
The 69 News team will be at the ceremony on Thursday, stay tuned for our story on the web and on air.