Hygienic Manufacturing Company facts for kids
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Overton Hygienic Building
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Chicago metropolitan area
Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3619-27 S. State St. Chicago, Illinois |
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| Built | 1922 |
| Architect | Smith, Z. Erol |
| MPS | Black Metropolis TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001091 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 30, 1986 |
The Hygienic Manufacturing Company, also known as the Overton Hygienic Company, was a cosmetics business started by Anthony Overton. It became one of the biggest makers of beauty products for African Americans in the United States.
Anthony Overton also ran other businesses from this building. These included the Victory Life Insurance Company and the Douglass National Bank. The Douglass National Bank was special because it was the first bank owned by African Americans to get a national charter. This meant it could operate across the country.
The Overton Hygienic Building is a special place called a Chicago Landmark. It is also part of the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville District. This district is a historic area in the Douglas community area of Chicago, Illinois. You can find the building at 3619-3627 South State Street.
A Historic Building
The Overton Hygienic Building was built in 1922. Anthony Overton asked for it to be designed as a place for stores, offices, and manufacturing. It was seen as one of the most important buildings in the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville District. Overton also later had the Chicago Bee Building constructed in 1929.
Famous Architect's Office
An important architect named Walter T. Bailey had his first office in Chicago on the second floor of the Overton Hygienic Building. Walter T. Bailey was the first African-American architect to be officially licensed in the state of Illinois.
From Hotel to Business Hub
Over time, the building was renamed the Palace Hotel. For a while, it served as a very basic and crowded hotel. People stayed in small spaces, like tiny rooms. The second, third, and fourth floors each had many of these small spaces, with shared bathrooms.
Today, the Mid-South Planning and Development Commission owns the building. They are working to fix it up and use it as an "incubator." An incubator is a place that helps new small businesses and startups grow. This will help new businesses in the Black Metropolis neighborhood.
