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Malleable Iron Range Company / Monarch Range

Malleable Iron Range Company was a manufacturer of stoves, refrigerators, heaters, furnaces and other related items from 1896 to 1985. The company operated in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and often went by its trademark name Monarch, which referred to its primary product line of stoves and ranges. These items were insulated with asbestos, which was considered so effective that it remained a chief selling point for decades.

With its line of asbestos-containing products, Monarch thrived during the first half of the 20th century. At its peak in the 1950s, the company employed nearly 1,200 workers, many of whom likely had direct exposure to asbestos. Over the next 30 years, the company's size and success dwindled. When it filed for bankruptcy protection in 1985, Monarch had only 260 employees.

Any Monarch customers and employees who were in contact with asbestos were put at risk of developing illnesses like pleural mesothelioma. If you worked for Monarch Range or owned a Monarch product, you may be at risk. Find out more about asbestos exposure and its health effects by reading the Pleural Mesothelioma Center's free informational packet. Request your copy by completing the form on this page.

Monarch Asbestos Use

Monarch's catalogs and advertisements suggest that asbestos was used in its ovens for the duration of the company's activity. In its first 40 years, the company's advertisements described the heavy asbestos insulation used throughout all oven models. Company pamphlets boasted of the effectiveness of asbestos insulation, claiming it would help keep heating costs to a minimum.

Beginning in the 1940s, the company stopped using asbestos as a selling point. By the next decade, catalogs and manuals didn't mention asbestos at all. Company documents from the late 1950s noted heavy insulation in ovens but no longer specified the type of insulation used in oven production.

While asbestos exposure can have deadly health effects, asbestos insulation in Monarch ranges often posed no danger. If ovens remained in good condition throughout their use, costumers likely never came into contact with asbestos material. Damaged ovens can release asbestos fibers into the air, making the fibers able to be inhaled by people nearby. Individuals who owned or used items containing damaged asbestos insulation should alert their doctors to this potential history of exposure and monitor their health accordingly.

Site Cleanup

Monarch's facility was abandoned after the company's bankruptcy. When the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources inspected the area, it found more than 65,000 gallons of hazardous materials. In 1987, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) performed an emergency cleanup project, spending a total of $369,000. Dodge County foreclosed upon the property the following year, and a subsequent county inspection found significant asbestos contamination. Environmental asbestos exposure was an ongoing threat for neighbors.

A 1990 fire in the building prompted the beginning of a remediation process. Dodge County spent nearly $2 million demolishing the building and removing contaminated soil and water. Following remediation, the city of Beaver Dam spent $1 million rebuilding the area, and the Department of Commerce spent another $1 million developing the new structures. Remediation and rebuilding efforts were costly but ultimately successful. As of 2005, the former Monarch Range site was home to a grocery store, pharmacy, strip mall and video store.

If you were exposed to asbestos because of Monarch products or environmental pollution, learn more about your rights and treatment options. Contact an experienced Patient Advocate today and discuss all your options. Call 800-381-1772 to speak with a Patient Advocate, or e-mail an advocate here.

Sources:

1. Heberle, L.C. (2006). Connecting Smart Growth and Brownfields Redevelopment. Center for Environmental Policy and Management, University of Louisville. Retrieved from http://cepm.louisville.edu/publications/PDF_docs/smart%20growth%20and%20brownfields%20for%20website.pdf
2. Matthews, G. (1996). On the back burner no more. Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine. Retrieved from http://dnr.wi.gov/wnrmag/html/stories/1996/oct96/brownfld.htm
3. Monarch Range (2007). Catalogs, Sales Pieces, and Price Lists. Retrieved from http://www.monarchrange.com/Catalogs/index.htm
4. Monarch Range (2007). Papers and Publications. Retrieved from http://www.monarchrange.com/Publications/index.htm
5. Monarch Range (2007). Promotional Materials. Retrieved from http://www.monarchrange.com/Promotion/index.htm
6. Monarch Range (2007). Remembering Monarch Range. Retrieved from http://www.monarchrange.com/
7. Opp, S. (2005). Brownfield Redevelopment. Retrieved from http://cepm.louisville.edu/Pubs_WPapers/practiceguides/PG10.pdf
8. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (2009). Grant Accomplishments: Final 128A Report. Retrieved from http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/rr/archives/pubs/rr865.pdf