Property Record
1420 63RD ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | CHICAGO BRASS COMPANY |
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| Other Name: | HAPPENINGS MAGAZINE OFFICE BUILDING |
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| Reference Number: | 9652 |
| Location (Address): | 1420 63RD ST |
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| County: | Kenosha |
| City: | Kenosha |
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| Year Built: | 1917 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19752007 |
| Historic Use: | industrial bldg/manufacturing facility |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | GRAHAM, ANDERSON, PROBST & WHITE (1917-Office Building) |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. SEGMENTAL ARCHED WINDOWS. ONCE A 29-ACRE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. ALL BUILDINGS EXCEPT OFFICE BUILDING LOCATED AT 1420 63RD STREET RAZED CIRCA 2003. 2007- American Brass emerged form Chicago Brass Company, which was founded in 1886 in Illinois by Edward D. Tuttle and Frank Avery. The company selected Kenosha as the site of its plant because Mayor Zalmon C. Simmons persuaded several others to donate land in the southwest part of the city. It was only the second brass foundry in the nation not located in an East coast state. In 1912, the company was sold the American Brass company of Waterford, Connecticut. World War I brought a tremendous need for brass and the Kenosha plant was expanded to accommodate the need its 2,400 workers. This expansion included the construction of this office building. American Brass was purchased by the Anaconda mining Company, which was the world's largest copper mining company. By the 1930s, the plant covered fifteen acres and was one of the largest factories in the state. the Kenosha plant was also one of Anaconda's largest divisions. In 1977, the Anaconda Copper Company was purchased by Atlantic Richfield, which later reorganized as ARCO metals Company. In t1985, ARCO sole the plant to the Buffalo Brass Company. It was acquired in 1990 by t the Outokumpo Group of Finland, who operated the facility until 1999. the plant was razed in circa 2003 to make way for redevelopment. Today, only the office building remains and it houses the local event magazine. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Survey Report: Historic Resource Survey Kenosha, Wisconsin. (1982) KENOSHA HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION LANDMARK DESIGNATION FORM (2003). “Architecture/History Survey: Reconstruct 63rd St. (STH 50): 22nd Ave. To 14th Ave.” WHS project number 07-0786/KN. July 2007. Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |