Cain's Coffee Building facts for kids
The Cain's Coffee Building is a historic building in Oklahoma City, built in 1918. You can find it at 1 NW Twelfth Street, close to Broadway. This unique building is five stories tall with a full basement. It's made of white glazed brick and shows off a style called Art Deco revival. The building is quite large, covering about 50,000 square feet (or 4,645 square meters).
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What is the Cain's Coffee Building?
This building was originally part of a special project by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a program that helped people find jobs during tough economic times. Over the years, different companies used the building. It was home to an Extract Company and the Seelye Mattress Company. But it's most famous for being the headquarters of the Cain's Coffee Company.
Who Started Cain's Coffee?
The Cain's Coffee Company was started in 1919 by William Morgan Cain Sr. He was born in 1894 and moved to Choctaw, Oklahoma, with his mother when he was six years old.
When William Cain was 17, he joined the Navy. During his time in the Navy, he traveled to Brazil. There, he was amazed by the huge piles of coffee beans on the docks. This trip sparked his interest in coffee.
After leaving the Navy, Cain worked for another coffee company in Oklahoma City. Then, in 1919, he decided to start his own business. He began by roasting, grinding, and packaging coffee all by himself. He would then deliver it to grocery stores.
How Did the Company Grow?
William Cain was the president of his company until 1937. At that time, he became the chairman of the board. Richard J. Clements, who had joined the company in 1932, then became the new president.
Both Cain and Clements believed in a special way of doing business. They wanted to buy coffee, tea, and spices directly from where they were grown. Then, they would ship these raw products to Oklahoma City. This allowed them to process and package everything right there in their own building.
What is the Building Used For Today?
The Cain's Coffee Building has been recently updated and made new again. An organization called LifeHouse and an architect named Stanley Engle worked on the renovation. Stanley Engle studied architecture at the University of Oklahoma and in England.
Today, the building is a lively place. It has a museum where you can learn about its history. There's also a coffee shop and a bookstore. Plus, some parts of the building have been turned into apartments. The building is open to the public five days a week, so you can visit and explore it yourself!
