MASSENA -- A celebration was held Saturday as Alcoa celebrated 120 years in Massena.

Many corporate, public and local dignitaries presented speeches and citations.

Alcoa continues to have a significant impact to families and surrounding communities with generations of families having worked at the plant

Many speeches praised Alcoa and the Alcoa Foundation for their significant impact for decades to Massena and the surrounding areas.

“This important milestone could not have been achieved without the tremendous work of our employees and the steadfast support of our community stakeholders and elected officials,” said Massena Operations Manager Derrick Lucey. “Thank you for your dedication and passion in making the Massena smelter the success it is today.”

The event was held at Alcoa and employees, retirees, and local officials and their families enjoyed tours, a pop up museum on the history, food and family activities.

On June 26, 1902, Charles Martin Hall, the inventor of the original aluminum process committed to purchase power from a newly built powerhouse on a canal connecting the St. Lawrence and Grasse rivers in Massena, to form the Pittsburgh Reduction Company.

On July 12, 1902, the company, which later became Alcoa, broke ground for the new plant in Massena. The Massena Operations has operated for the last 120 years, making it the oldest continuously operating aluminum smelter in the world.