Amazon Hosiery Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Amazon Hosiery Mill
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 530-550 W. Western Ave., Muskegon, Michigan |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1895 |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002857 |
| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1982 |
The Amazon Hosiery Mill, also known as the Amazon Knitting Mill, is an old factory building in Muskegon, Michigan. You can find it at 530-550 West Western Avenue. Today, it's not a factory anymore; it's called the Amazon Apartments. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 because of its important history.
Contents
How the Amazon Mill Started
Muskegon used to be a big center for the lumber business. But in the early 1890s, the lumber industry suddenly slowed down a lot. Lumber shipments dropped by more than 90%. This was a big problem for the city's economy.
To help, the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce came up with a plan. They wanted to bring new businesses to the city. Their plan offered money to new companies. They also offered free land if the companies created enough jobs.
In 1895, a man named George W. Powell agreed to move his company to Muskegon. His company was the Amazon Hosiery Company. It made socks and stockings. A new brick building was built on Western Avenue for the factory.
Challenges and New Beginnings
The Amazon Hosiery Company had a tough time in its new home. In 1897, two rich lumber businessmen stepped in to help. Their names were Charles Hackley and Thomas Hume. They paid $100,000 to take control of the company.
They changed the company's name to Amazon Knitting Mill. They also changed what the company made. After these changes, the company started to do very well. By 1899, it employed 650 people. That same year, a new four-story brick part was added to the factory.
Later Years and New Purpose
The Amazon Knitting Mill kept growing in the early 1900s. It even kept working during the Great Depression, a time when many businesses struggled. However, World War II made it hard to find workers and supplies. Because of this, the factory closed down in 1943. The company's belongings were sold off.
The building was empty for a few years. In 1945, part of it was rented out to ACDelco. This company is a division of General Motors. Over the next many years, different businesses used parts of the building.
In 1993, there were plans to turn the building into apartments and shops. This big project finished in 2001. Since 2017, the building has been known as the Amazon Apartments. It has 118 apartments. The ground floor also has 98,000 square feet for stores and offices.
What the Building Looks Like
The Amazon Hosiery Mill was built in two main parts. The part on the east side was a single-story building. It was shaped like an "L" and had a two-story square tower. This part of the building is now gone.
The larger part of the building is on the west side. It is a four-story brick building. It is shaped like a "U" and has a sloped roof. This section is 240 feet long and 200 feet wide.
Cool Features of the Western Section
The middle part of the "U" shape has brick columns that stick out. These columns separate the rectangular windows. There are also two square towers at the corners of this building.
The tower on the east side is five stories tall. It has a series of rounded arch windows at the top. It is topped with a sloped shingle roof. The tower on the west side is even taller, at six stories high. It has two rows of round arched windows. These windows are on the fourth and sixth floors. The fifth floor of this tower used to have a clock, but it is not there anymore.
