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Summary
Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company
1700 Packard Avenue, Racine, Racine County
Architect: David R. Davis
Date of Construction: 1905, 1909, 1912, 1914, 1916, 1917, 1924
Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company at 1700 Packard Avenue in Racine, Wisconsin was built in stages between 1905 and 1924. Gold Medal consists of two buildings, the eastern block and the administration building. The Gold Medal Camp Furniture Company was a local manufacturer that became a nationwide leader in the design and production of a range of portable folding and collapsible furniture. Incorporated in 1892 by Robert B. Lang, Gold Medal developed specialized furniture, including a variety of cots, chairs, tables, and other collapsible camping equipment, which became industry standards during the early twentieth century.
Gold Medal’s Racine building served as the headquarters of the company and the facility where nearly all furniture lines were designed, produced, and shipped. Gold Medal remained a significant Racine furniture manufacturing concern for nearly a century until it closed in 1986. The Gold Medal building remains as the only production facility in Racine associated with the Gold Medal Company, and it is one of the best remaining examples of a mill-type factory building built as part of Racine’s role in a specialized segment of Wisconsin’s furniture industry.
Property Details
| Criteria | Event |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Industry |
| Period of Significance | 1905-1969 |
| Architectural Style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements |
| Architect | David R. Davis |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Manufacturing Facility |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 2 |
|---|---|
| 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 State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Feb 15, 2019 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | May 7, 2019 |
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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