Welland Museum's Atlas Steels exhibit takes Frank Pisani to a time when he was a lot younger, earning a nice salary in a thriving industry.

The former pouring crane operator was one of many former factory employees among close to 200 people who attended the Saturday opening of the display — Atlas: Memories Forged in Steel.

"It brings back a lot of memories. I wish I was still that age working there," said the 87-year-old who worked at the plant from 1959 to 1993.

Atlas Steels was built in 1918. By 1948, it was considered the largest specialty steel company in Canada, exporting goods to 53 countries.

At its peak, the company employed 3,000 workers. Today about 125 people work at the factory.

Steve Szabo started at Atlas in the machine shop in 1959 after immigrating from Hungary as a certified tradesman.

"I knew all the machines, how to make all the repairs," said Szabo, who donated to the museum two calendar plaques he had in his possession that were given to customers decades ago.

Mike McNaughton wouldn't be a Welland resident if his father wasn't one of eight individuals brought to Atlas in 1949 from the Hamilton area to train staff on how to roll stainless steel.

His family permanently moved to Welland and the rest is history, said MacNaughton, who also worked at Atlas for a brief period before taking a full-time position with the local fire department.

The quality of product that came out of the factory was second to none, he said.

"Within a couple of years, it was the best stainless steel in the world — not just Canada."

Tim Clutterbuck, president of the current operation, started at the plant in 1980.

He said the number of people coming through the exhibit Saturday is a clear indication of how many in the city are touched in some way by Atlas.

"They're all connected to somebody, whether it's from the '40s, '50s, '60s," he said.

Atlas remains a family environment and always has been that way, he added.

"There's a lot of industry from this area that may not be quite what it used to be many years ago, but there's always that lineage of family."

Museum chairman Greg D'Amico said the focus of the exhibit that will be on display until early 2020 is the "good times" at the factory.

It also incorporates a virtual reality component for guests to explore.

"By doing that, we've created in people's minds — the history — as the reality of what Atlas was to Welland," said D'Amico as visitors browsed plant equipment, newsletters, a photo collection of staff shot by renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh, and many other pieces.

Mayor Frank Campion has a personal connection to Atlas as his father, John, worked in the marketing department in the 1950s.

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The exhibit is an exciting opportunity to create traffic through the museum, he said.

"It's a great way to bring the community together to reminisce."

For more information, visit www.wellandmuseum.ca.