The Seneca Foundry Story
Seneca Foundry is a family-owned cast iron foundry in Webster City, Iowa, with roots that reach back more than 100 years. Our story began with agricultural innovation and has grown into a modern gray iron and ductile iron casting manufacturer that serves customers across North America.
Our history reflects steady growth, practical problem solving, and a commitment to quality that still guides our gray iron castings and ductile iron castings today. We are proud of our Midwestern values, long-standing customer relationships, and the generations of families who have helped build Seneca Foundry.
The Original Foundry Building
Our Beginnings (1909-1935)
The Seneca Foundry story starts with our founder, W. A. McCollough. On September 7, 1909, he received a patent for a hog feeding trough that improved sanitation and helped protect livestock health. Soon after, he moved his family from Burlington, Colorado, to Webster City, Iowa, and began planning a small manufacturing operation.
The McCollough family home sat beside a large lot that became the site of the first factory at the corner of Seneca Street and First Street. Construction began in the spring of 1910. It was truly a family project, with each family member contributing to the new business.
Foundry Founder: W.A. McCollough
W. A. McCollough was a prolific inventor and earned 11 patents during his lifetime. A 12th patent was later filed on his behalf by two of his sons. His most influential design was the rack for feeding troughs, which created a more sanitary system for feeding and watering pigs. This innovation helped reduce disease in herds and formed the foundation of W. A. McCollough & Sons.
By 1940, the company produced a significant share of the nation’s self-feeders for hogs and became a trusted name in agricultural equipment.
"Rack for Feeding Troughs" Original Design
The Great Depression created serious financial hardship. When a Webster City bank closed, much of the company’s money was lost. The family stayed focused on the business, managed through the crisis, and eventually purchased 500 acres of farmland in Wright County. That resilience became part of the culture that still supports our iron casting foundry today.
Early Expansion and New Opportunities (1936-1961)
After W. A. McCollough passed away, the family renamed the company McCollough’s Inc. in 1939 and looked toward new growth. Iron castings were an essential part of livestock waterers, so two of his sons chose to produce their own castings. In 1936, they constructed an iron foundry that became an important part of the business.
As both the original factory and the new iron foundry expanded, it became practical to separate the operations. This led to the creation of McCollough’s Foundry Inc. W. A.’s grandson Bob later led this foundry, while another grandson, John, oversaw operations at the factory. The family’s involvement across leadership and production helped maintain strong values, service, and quality.
Pictured left: McKinley McCollough President 1950-1962 Pictured right: John, A Mcollough, President McCollough's, Inc 1962-1986 and; Robert L. McCollough, President McCollough's Foundry 1962-1994
The years following World War II brought rapid change to foundries across the country. Dirt floors were replaced with concrete. New molding machines and improved equipment modernized the casting process. These upgrades positioned the company for the future of gray iron castings and ductile iron castings.
A new name arrived as well. A glance out an office window at the cross street sign reading Seneca and Stockdale inspired the name that endures. On March 30, 1961, the company officially became Seneca Foundry Inc.
Original Street Sign
At the McCollough’s Inc. factory, growth continued despite two fires. New product lines included swing sets, picnic table bases, and tilting farm gates. In the 1960s, the company added a color printing department and IBM data processing equipment. The entire family remained active in sales, office work, and data processing. That culture of hands-on involvement continues to influence how we support customers at Seneca Foundry today.
Building a Modern Iron Foundry (1962-1999)
In the early 1960s, Seneca entered the ductile iron casting market by partnering with two local companies, Osmundson Forge and Mertz Engineering. This step expanded our capabilities and supported more demanding industrial applications.
On the evening of October 27, 1969, a fire damaged the foundry. A train blocking Seneca Street delayed the fire department and led to extensive loss. Out of that challenge came opportunity. Franklin Manufacturing, now White Consolidated Industries, was interested in land west of the foundry and purchased the entire corner. The sale proceeds covered much of the cost of a new, larger, and more modern facility.
New Land, New Building
The new foundry on the west side of Webster City gave Seneca room to invest in advanced casting technology and to improve production flow. This facility became the foundation for the high-quality iron casting services we provide today.
Key Milestones Included:
- Early 1970s – Automation transformed most foundry processes and reduced strenuous manual labor.
- 1980s – A second furnace, additional automatic molding machines, and more work areas were added to support larger molds and more complex castings.
New Hunter Automatic Molding Machine
- 1990s – A major building addition created more space for office staff, pattern storage, and production, positioning the cast iron foundry for future growth.
Innovation and Subsidiaries in the 2000s
The early 2000s marked another period of rapid change for Seneca Foundry as we refined our processes for gray iron castings and ductile iron castings and explored new ways to serve customers.
Key Developments Included:
- 2003 – LEAN manufacturing principles were implemented to make production more efficient, improve throughput, and strengthen quality control.
- 2005 – A patternmaker joined the company, and Top Notch Tooling, known as TNT, was formed to support tooling and pattern needs.
- 2007 – Seneca expanded into the international trade market as an importer and wholesaler by creating the Seneca subsidiary DesignCast.
- 2009 – Gold Chip Machining was launched as another subsidiary to provide additional value-added services.
All three subsidiaries were started by the President at that time, Kirk McCollough, fourth generation of the McCollough’s and son of Robert McCollough. While these subsidiaries are no longer active, the experience they created helped strengthen our engineering, tooling, and machining knowledge. That expertise feeds directly into the continuous improvement and reliable casting quality that customers expect from Seneca Foundry today.
Seneca Foundry Today
More than a century after W. A. McCollough’s first patent, Seneca Foundry operates as a modern gray and ductile iron foundry in Webster City, Iowa. We produce American-made gray iron castings and ductile iron castings in low to medium volume runs for diverse industries across North America.
Our team uses a total quality management approach, modern testing equipment, and proven casting processes to deliver consistent results. The people who work here are part of the Seneca family. Their skills and dedication make it possible to pour high-quality castings day after day.
Our long history gives customers confidence in our stability and knowledge. Our continued investment in technology and process improvement keeps our metal casting services competitive in today’s market.
The future will bring new challenges and new opportunities for the cast iron industry. Seneca Foundry plans to continue growing, serving customers, and bringing iron to life for many years ahead.
