The Gold Medal building is a historic factory complex in Racine, Wisconsin. The three-story brick-walled mill-type was built between 1894 and 1924. The Wisconsin Historical Society describes the complex as "one of the best remaining examples of a mill-type factory building" in the state.[2]
Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company | |
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| Location | 1700-1701 Packard Avenue Racine, Wisconsin |
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| Coordinates | 42°42′39″N 87°48′03″W / 42.7109°N 87.8009°W |
| Area | 1.2 acres (0.49 ha) |
| Architect | David R. Davis |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements |
| NRHP reference No. | 100003915[1] |
| Added to NRHP | May 7, 2019[2] |
History
editThe Racine Camp Furniture & Novelty Manufacturing Co. was founded in 1890, to manufacture furniture for camping such as tents, folding chairs, and sleeping bags. Supposedly, after the company's furniture won a gold medal at the 1893 World's Fair exhibition in Chicago, the name was changed to the Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company.[3] However, no gold medals were actually awarded at the fair,[4] and there is evidence of the company using the Gold Medal name earlier.[5] The company made the standard cots for the United States military and National Guard,[6] and also created the modern director's chair after its No. 35 folding chairs became popular in Hollywood.[7]
In 1979, Gold Medal established a second manufacturing plant in Baxter, Tennessee. In 1986, the company decided to consolidate its operations in the face of increased competition from overseas, and closed the Racine plant.[3] In 2019, the complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places at the request of its owner, development firm J. Jeffers & Co., which is currently in the process of converting the historic buildings into an apartment building called Gold Medal Lofts.[8]
References
edit- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b "Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
- ^ a b Pfankuchen, David. "Gold Medal plant closing", Racine Journal Times, September 10, 1986, page 1A and 2A.
- ^ "The Prize Winning Medallion Awarded at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, IL", Living History of Illinois and Chicago.
- ^ "Going to the Front: Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company Business Increasing", Racine Journal Times, May 5, 1892, page four.
- ^ "1700 PACKARD AVE", Wisconsin Historical Society.
- ^ "Columbian Exposition Gave Name; Movie Stars Glamorized Product", Racine Journal Times, February 21, 1967, page 4A.
- ^ Burke, Michael. "Gold Medal Lofts redevelopment well underway, will create 77 apartments", Racine Journal Times, August 25, 2019.