Lee Woodard and Sons Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lee Woodard and Sons Building
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| Location | 306 S. Elm St., Owosso, Michigan |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1900 |
| MPS | Owosso MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001914 |
| Added to NRHP | November 4, 1980 |
The Lee Woodard and Sons Building is an old factory in Owosso, Michigan. It used to make furniture. This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Today, it has been changed into cool apartments called Woodard Station Lofts.
Contents
The Factory's Story
Early Days and Growth
Around 1900, the Lyman Woodard's Furniture and Casket Company was growing fast. They needed more space. So, they built a big, four-story brick factory right next to their old one.
Sadly, people started buying less wooden furniture. In 1904, Lyman Woodard passed away. This was a tough time for the company.
A New Direction: Metal Furniture
Lyman's son, Lee Woodard, took over the business. He worked hard to make the company strong again. When wooden furniture wasn't selling well, Lee had a clever idea. He decided to make furniture out of metal instead!
The factory's machines were changed to work with metal. By the mid-1920s, Woodard was famous again for making furniture. They even added more space to the factory.
Facing Challenges and Changing Uses
The Great Depression hit many businesses hard, including Woodard Furniture. By 1942, the company had to sell off its things.
But Lee Woodard didn't give up. During World War II, he changed the factory again. This time, they made parts to help with the war effort. After the war, they went back to making metal furniture.
The factory kept making furniture for many years. In 1995, the company moved to a brand new building. The old 1900 factory was then given a new life. It was turned into modern homes and shops, now known as Woodard Station Lofts.
What the Building Looks Like
The Lee Woodard and Sons Building is a large factory made of brick. It has four stories.
Windows and Details
The building has many windows, usually in groups of three. These windows are double-hung, meaning they slide up and down. They are set in brick openings that look like arches.
The outside of the building has simple details. There are brick columns, called pilasters, every two sections. At the very top, there's a simple brick design that looks like teeth, called a dentilated corniceline.
An addition was built around 1925. This part is ten sections wide. It has similar windows, but they are set in straight brick openings, not arched ones.
