Zinc Collar Pad Company Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Zinc Collar Pad Company Building
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2014
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 304 S. Oak St., Buchanan, Michigan |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1875 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000472 |
| Added to NRHP | July 1, 2009 |
The Zinc Collar Pad Company Building is an old industrial building located at 304 S. Oak Street in Buchanan, Michigan. It was once a busy factory that made special pads for horse harnesses. Today, it's recognized for its history and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important landmark worth preserving.
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The Story of the Zinc Collar Pad Building
In 1870, a man named Dexter Curtis invented something clever. He created a special pad for horse harnesses. These pads had a zinc lining. They helped stop the horse's neck and shoulders from getting sore or rubbed. This problem is called chafing.
That same year, Curtis teamed up with George H. Richards and Henry Gilman. They started a company to make and sell these new pads. Their company was first called "Curtis, Gilman and Richards." The very first pad came out in April 1870. It was a big hit right away!
By 1871, the company was known as the "Zinc Collar Pad Company." They were working out of a space in a metal factory. The business grew quickly. In just a few years, from 1871 to 1873, they used over 400,000 pounds of zinc. But in September 1874, the building they were in burned down.
Building a New Home
The company quickly decided to build a new factory. Just one month after the fire, they drew up plans for this very building. In 1875, they built it in the middle of Buchanan's busy industrial area. The company worked from this building for many years.
Around 1884, Dexter Curtis started another company in Madison, Wisconsin. He wanted to make even more pads there. George Richards and his son Joseph also started their own businesses. They made other things like carpet stretchers and bicycle seats. They ran these businesses from the same building.
George Richards passed away in 1888. His share of the company went to his son, Joseph. In 1898, Curtis and Richards decided to go their separate ways. Joseph Richards then became the only owner of the company in Buchanan.
Moving On and Closing Down
Joseph Richards died in 1906. His sons then took over the business. By 1913, the company had grown too big for the 1875 building. They moved to a larger factory on Buchanan's Main Street.
The company's production reached its highest point during World War I (1917-1918). This was because there was a high demand for horse collars during the war. However, after the war ended, business dropped sharply. The company eventually closed down by 1927.
When the Zinc Collar Pad Company moved in 1913, the 1875 building was sold. It was bought by a local team named Pears and Fuller. They changed the building into four apartments. They also added large porches to the south side. The building was used as apartments for over 80 years. But around 1998, it became empty.
What the Building Looks Like Today
The Zinc Collar Pad Company Building is a two-story building made of red brick. Most of its brick has been covered with a material called stucco. The main part of the building is about 26 feet wide and 55 feet long. There's also a smaller, one-story part on the south side. This part is about 16 feet wide and 18 feet long.
Large porches stick out from both the north and south sides of the building. When it was first built, the east side was the main entrance. But when the building became apartments in 1914, that entrance was filled in. The north side then became the main entrance. This side has a big porch that covers the doors to the apartments.
Pictures of the Building
