An eight-acre site at the corner of Madison Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard holds an important place in Covington’s history. From the late 1800s and into the mid-2000s, it served as a railroad maintenance hub and later as a major paper bag manufacturer, contributing to economic development, industrial and employment growth for the surrounding region.
The Northern Kentucky Port Authority, with support from its partners – the City of Covington, Kenton County and The Catalytic Fund, recently acquired this long-dormant site with plans to stabilize the existing structures for future redevelopment. The goal is to connect the site’s industrial past to new growth opportunities in Covington and beyond. The site played an important role in industrial development for the Kentucky and Ohio region, supporting transportation, manufacturing, and local employment for more than a century.
Covington’s Railroad Past
In the nineteenth century, railroads were critical means of transportation when moving goods, people, and raw materials. Covington’s prime location along the Ohio River made it an ideal hub for rail transportation supporting economic growth and industrial activity, contributing to the expansion of surrounding industries. In the 1850s, Covington became the northern terminus for the Covington and Lexington Railroad, a ninety-nine-mile track that linked northern and central Kentucky.
In 1871, the Covington and Lexington Railroad’s name was changed to the Kentucky Central Railroad, which further supported the city’s growing role in transportation and trade. Due to this expansion, the property, located at the corner of Madison Avenue and MLK Jr. Boulevard, was developed as a railroad maintenance hub, which included machine facilities, repair shops, and a roundhouse used for servicing locomotives. By 1894, the roundhouse was relocated within the property and transformed into a semi-circular structure, reflecting the current layout seen today.
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the line was officially absorbed into the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railroad system. Since C&O operated on a much larger scale, maintenance facilities in Covington were integrated into a more extensive railroad network. There was continued expansion on the site, reinforcing an already strong railroad system within the Northern Kentucky region.
The Paper Bag Era
The Triangle Paper Bag Manufacturing Company, founded in 1919, was originally established in Cincinnati. Due to its rapid growth, the company was a profitable customer for the C&O Railway system as hundreds of railroad cars brought paper from southern mills into the Cincinnati area. Due to Triangle’s success and high volume of business, C&O leased 1.1 acres of their land to Triangle in 1934 to enhance its business process. As a result, Triangle moved the entire operation from Cincinnati across the river to Covington. In 1940, C&O retired its roundhouse tracks and leased the roundhouse to Triangle, and over the next 15 years Triangle expanded at this new location to meet the needs and demands of its customers.
In 1949, S. David Shor took over the business. In 1953, David parted ways with Triangle and after the separation, he and another Triangle senior executive established Duro Paper Bag Manufacturing Company. It started small, selling paper bags within a radius of 300 miles of Cincinnati and even briefly competing with Triangle. Over the years, Duro experienced rapid growth, building their reputation as a major producer of paper bags.
During Duro’s increasing success, Triangle was experiencing employment issues. Several labor strikes occurred, leading to work stoppages and workforce cuts. Ultimately, Triangle liquidated its assets and eventually Duro acquired the former Triangle assets which included the lease with the railroad. This action propelled Duro to its position as a major paper bag manufacturer, selling to the nation’s largest retailers and wholesalers.
Charlie Shor served as CEO for more than three decades, leading the company through significant financial challenges and growing it into the world’s largest paper bag manufacturer, with more than 2,500 employees across North America and corporate offices in Northern Kentucky.
Corporate Evolution
In 2014, Duro was acquired by Hilex Poly Co. LLC, a subsidiary of Novolex. The site is a reminder of Covington’s industrial past. The NKY Port Authority’s acquisition of this site in April 2026 opens the door for future economic opportunities.
