Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company | |
Location | 1700-1701 Packard Avenue Racine, Wisconsin |
---|---|
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] |
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]
The 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]
Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company | |
Location | 1700-1701 Packard Avenue Racine, Wisconsin |
---|---|
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] |
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]
The 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]