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Summary
Fairbanks Flats
205, 215 Birch Avenue & 206, 216 Carpenter Avenue, Beloit, Rock County
Architect: unknown
Date of Construction: 1917
Fairbanks Flats are a rare example of segregated company housing, the only known community housing built exclusively for black workers in Wisconsin. During an era of rapid industrial growth, private corporations played an important role in community planning. Fairbanks Morse, an engine manufacturer, was Beloit's largest employer. Increased production during World War I attracted hundreds of African American workers from the southern US. Morse proposed to house these workers in bunker-like flats north of the existing working class community.
This plan raised issues of racial conflict and segregation. Eclipse Home Makers, Inc., a specially organized subsidiary, purchased land on the west side of the Rock River in hopes to "contain" the large number of blacks in one place on the outskirts of town. Despite official concern and private pleas, Fairbanks Morse continued plans for development of the flats.
The Fairbanks Flats consist of four identical buildings with six two-story units in each. The buildings are a severe utilitarian concrete block construction, excluding all ornamentation. The concentration of these black workers in the flats created the nucleus of Beloit's black community. The Fairbanks Morse company housing plan helped shape future housing and settlement patterns in the city.
The flats are private residences; please respect the privacy rights of the owners.
Property Details
| Criteria | Event |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Community Planning And Development,Ethnic Heritage/Black |
| Period of Significance | 1925-1949,1900-1924 |
| Architectural Style | No Style Listed |
| Architect | |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Multiple Dwelling |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 4 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jan 7, 1983 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jan 1, 1989 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
205, 215 BIRCH AVE AND 206, 216 CARPENTER AVE
16574
Located in Beloit, Rock County
Interview with Ben Gordon, May 6, 1976
May 6, 1976
Clem Imhoff interviewed Ben Gordon in Beloit, Wisconsin on 29 April 1976. In this second in a series of three interviews with Imhoff, Gordon discusses his father's job at Fairbanks-Morse, segregati...
Foundry Workers at Fairbanks, Morse & Company
1925
Five foundry workers at Fairbanks, Morse & Company, taking a break just outside the door of the building. Workers names: Solomon Deberry, Curtis Barber, two unidentified co-workers, and Deberry's s...
555 LAWTON; FAIRBANKS, MORSE COMPLEX
85976
Located in Beloit, Rock County
