Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company
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 Location in Wisconsin
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| Location | 1700-1701 Packard Avenue Racine, Wisconsin |
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| 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 |
| Added to NRHP | May 7, 2019 |
The Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company building is a very old factory in Racine, Wisconsin. It's a historic place where furniture was made. This large brick building was built over many years, from 1894 to 1924. The Wisconsin Historical Society says it's one of the best examples of an old factory building in the state.
Contents
The Story of Gold Medal Furniture
How the Company Started
The company began in 1890 as the Racine Camp Furniture & Novelty Manufacturing Co. Its main goal was to make furniture for camping. This included things like tents, chairs that could fold up, and sleeping bags. Imagine going camping with their gear!
The "Gold Medal" Name
The company supposedly changed its name to Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company after winning a gold medal. This was said to happen at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. However, no gold medals were actually given out at that fair. Also, there's proof that the company used the "Gold Medal" name even before the fair. So, the story behind the name is a bit of a mystery!
Famous Products and Military Use
Gold Medal Camp Furniture made many useful items. They produced the standard cots (simple beds) for the United States military. They also supplied cots for the National Guard. This shows how important their products were.
One of their most famous creations was the modern director's chair. Their "No. 35" folding chairs became very popular in Hollywood movies. Because of this, the company created the special chair we now know as the director's chair.
Changes Over Time
In 1979, Gold Medal opened a second factory in Baxter, Tennessee. But later, the company faced more competition from other countries. So, in 1986, they decided to bring all their work to one place. This meant closing the original factory in Racine.
A New Life for the Old Factory
In 2019, the old factory buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historic sites in the United States. The owner, a company called J. Jeffers & Co., asked for this to happen. They are now turning the historic factory buildings into apartments. These new homes are called Gold Medal Lofts.
