Central Manufacturing District

The Central Manufacturing District was the first planned manufacturing district (industrial park) in the United States.

Chicago Tribune, August 2, 1905

Lease Made in Central Manufacturing District.
Factory and warehouse improvements, to cost around $200.000, are involved in leases just made on what is termed the central manufacturing district bounded by Thirty-fifth, Thirty-ninth, and Morgan streets, and Ashland avenue. The lessees are the United Supply company, the United States Leather company. Charles G. Wright, and A. L. Berry.

The land is valued at from 30 to 40 cents a square foot, and the lessees are to pay 5 per cent net on the land and 8 per cent net on the cost of the buildings.

Chicago Tribune, November 16, 1910

The Central Manufacturing District: Chicago Junction Railway Service, 1915

Prior to 1908, the territory now so widely known as the Central Manufacturing District of Chicago was largely barren prairie.

Down at 35th Street, on the South Branch of the Chicago River, are three hundred acres of ground which have had a somewhat remarkable history. After the Chicago Fire, this land, which at that time was located on the then outskirts of the city, began to gain notoriety as the “Cabbage Patch” of Chicago. Here were scenes of rustic beauty! In the sun and rain of many summers, the fields waved green with majestic cabbage leaves, and each Fall brought a bountiful harvest for the thrifty citizens who had planted, cultivated, and harvested, that the ancestors of Mrs. Wiggs¹ and Mr. Dooley (of “Archey Road“) might thrive. For, let it be known, our forefathers fed freely upon cabbages. From these succulent vegetables, the pioneers who built up the wonderful West drew vigor of arm and strong constitutions. For over a decade, cabbages reigned supreme, and never were such cabbages as from the old “Cabbage Patch.”

The Development of a Railway
In the development of the Union Stock Yards to the south of the “Cabbage Patch,” the Chicago Junction Railway Company, (the railroad serving the stock yards and packing houses,) had perfected its facilities for handling the greatest live-stock business in the world; it had secured direct connection with every railroad entering Chicago; it had constructed enormous freight yards; it had built a Union Freight Station for handling freight to all roads; it had purchased many new, modern locomotives, and it had found its capacity for handling business far in excess of the traffic offered — great though that traffic was. It was therefore
proper that the Chicago Junction should seek new tonnage.

When lumber came to the “Cabbage Patch,” transportation by water had been supplemented by facilities for transportation by rail. Light iron rails, wood-burning engines, and toy cars had been the equipment. Now the Chicago Junction Railway, in its quest for new business, expanded across the river and began operating the “Cabbage Patch” hues. For a time this was well, but decreasing lumber tonnage emphasized the necessity for securing other industrial products to transport. Then began the real transition of the “Cabbage Patch.”

The “Cabbage Patch” land that will be the home of the Central Manufacturing District as viewed from the 1886 Robinson Fire Insurance Map.

Birth of the Central Manufacturing District
The financial interests back of the Chicago Junction Railway realized the importance of the “Cabbage Patch” property in the growing scheme of things, and soon had acquired the scattered ownership of the land, thus grouping a large acreage under one holding. Funds were provided for erecting buildings, improving the streets, the tracks, the docks, and for developing the property.

Then was selected a name for the combined acres. And let it be said here, that of all the satisfactory things that have been done with this great industrial property, nothing more satisfactory, more important, nor more appropriate, has been accomplished than the christening with the concise, descriptive, and truthful name selected. It was called the “Central Manufacturing District” of Chicago.

Cabbages no longer flourish in the breezes of Ashland Avenue, but in their place have come factories and warehouses, employing workers by the thousands, some of them, no doubt, descendants of cabbage-fed ancestors who had inhabited this historic land of peace and plenty. It is for the purpose of describing these new conditions and to picture the buildings and improvements on the old “Cabbage Patch” that this booklet is published—a present-day description of the “Central Manufacturing District” of Chicago.

Location of the Central Manufacturing District
The larger portion of the Central Manufacturing District is located between 35th and 39th Streets, extending from Morgan Street on the east to Ashland Avenue on the west, while on 43rd Street, near Robey, is still another section of the District. Through the center of the District run the south and west forks of the South Branch of the Chicago River. South of 39th Street and extending east from Western Avenue to Ashland and beyond, is another tract of about 100 acres, also served by the Chicago Junction Railway, which will soon be the site of important commercial development along lines which have characterized the growth of the Central Manufacturing District. This property is wonderfully located for industrial expansion and with the working out of comprehensive plans for this new territory adjacent to the present Central Manufacturing District, will come the realization of dreams approaching the ideal in industrial property. This will give a total acreage in the Central Manufacturing District of around 400 acres.

Geographical Center
Thirty-fifth Street crosses the river between Racine (Center) Avenue and Iron Street and at that point is the geographical center of the City of Chicago—fourteen miles from the North city limits and fourteen miles from the South city limits,—Chicago being twenty-eight miles long. At 35th Street, Chicago is approximately seven miles wide, the Central Manufacturing District being located about half-way between the Lake and the western city limits. The District is only about four miles from the City Hall.

Center of Population
Recent census statistics show that forty-seven percent (47%) of Chicago’s population resides on the South Side. The growth of the city has been, and is likely to be, south and west; therefore, the natural location for industries serving the city’s needs is at a point central and convenient to the area of the city’s greatest consuming density. Such a point is the Central Manufacturing District.

Accessibility
The Central Manufacturing District is only about fifteen minutes ride from the City Hall by automobile. The District can be reached by splendid street car transportation in about thirty minutes from the down-town section, without transfer. By elevated railroad, it is possible to reach the District from all parts of the city and suburbs by transferring to the cross-town line at 35th Street. Splendid roads lead from the District in all directions, making it possible to team freight to all portions of the city at a minimum expense, and without passing through the congested down-town section. Actual experiments made by tenants in the District have shown a saving in time in city deliveries as compared with their previous locations within the loop. Many firms having very large city trade have found it convenient and economical to deliver by team and automobile from the District to all sections of the city.

An “Aeroplane View” of the Central Manufacturing District of Chicago in 1915.

Organization of the District
The property of the Central Manufacturing District is held by J. A. Spoor and Arthur G. Leonard, as trustees. This property is covered by a bond issue, the proceeds of which bonds are applicable to the erection of buildings, the construction of streets and docks, and other permanent improvements. Provision is made for the release of property sold from the lien of the bond mortgage and the whole arrangement provides a most satisfactory method for financing and developing the property.

The Lay-Out of the District
In laying out the District, great care has been taken to arrange buildings, tracks, streets, and driveways in order to secure maximum efficiency, light, and air without sacrificing attractiveness. While the importance of pleasing envi- ronment is generally conceded as adding to the efficiency of labor, in no other industrial center has the matter of grass lawns, flowers around the buildings, boulevards, attractive buildings, and healthful surroundings, received the consideration that has been given it here. Many of the streets in the District are private streets which have been improved with cement curbs, cement sidewalks, substantial granite block, brick or macadam roadways, and, wherever possible, wide grass parkways have been put in. Adequate sewer and water lines with fire hydrants have been installed, ornamental lamp posts have been erected and all District streets are well lighted by electricity. The District has its own street- cleaning department, and maintains a force of gardeners to care for its business boulevards.

Key Map showing location of the Central Manufacturing District in the exact strategical, geographical, and industrial center of the city of Chicago in 1915.

The Central Manufacturing District: Chicago Junction Railway Service, 1915

The Central Manufacturing District Bank is distinctly the District Bank. is located at 1112 W. 35th Street and occupies the first floor of the beautiful new semi-colonial building erected by the Trustees of the District for the District Bank and Club. Realizing the necessity for closer banking facilities, this bank was organized in October, 1912, for the convenience of District industries, with a capital stock of $250,000, most of the stock-holders being those identified in one way or another with the District and its industrial life. In less than three years the deposits of this bank have been increased to over $1,500,000. The bank does a general banking business and gives especial attention to savings and industrial accounts. A real estate and loan department is operated in connection with the bank and its safe deposit vaults are the equal of any in the City.

John Magnus Building, 35th Street. For several years the John Magnus Company occupied a building on 35th Street, adjoining their present location. Their business increased to such an extent that they were obliged to obtain larger quarters and desiring to remain on the Chicago Junction Rails the Trustees of the District erected for them in 1914 the building shown on this page. Maximum light and conveniences for assembling goods were the chief features in the construction of the building and their new plant embodies all these advantages. The building is of mill construction with sprinkler system and has five stories and basement, containing 187,600 square feet of floor space. The tower, which contains the passenger elevator and sprinkler tank, with the large clock, makes this an imposing structure which may be seen for blocks in all directions. The building was designed by S. Scott Joy, District Architect, and the General Contractor was E. W. Sproul Company.

The home of the chewing gum is in the Central Manufacturing District at 35th Street and Ashland Avenue. Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company in 1913 erected one building, six stories and basement containing over 175,000 square feet of floor area which is used by them entirely in the manufacture of this gum. New machines electrically operated for wrapping and sealing the packages have been installed at immense cost. The entire plant is operated in a most efficient and sanitary manner. Rest rooms, manicure parlors, etc., have been provided for the comfort and cleanliness of operators. They also occupy one whole section of the large building on Ashland Avenue, which formerly was known as the Chicago Junction Belt Line Buildings. The original buildings built in 1911 contain in all approximately 250,000 square feet of floor area and are of heavy mill construction and sprinkled. A. S. Alschuler was architect for these buildings. With the exception of space occupied by the Wrigley Company the buildings are occupied by several concerns, among them being, Herman Reach Company, bags and burlap: Pacific Mutual Door Company, doors; McClernan Metal Products Company, manufacturers of kitchen cabinets; Manufacturers & Retailers Company, wholesale grocers, and Westinghouse Lamp Company.

The main factory building of Wrigley Company was designed by Postle & Fisher, Architects.

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The American Ever-Ready Works, a subsidiary organization of the National Carbon Company, manufactures electric torch lamps, flashlights, electric batteries and other electric equipment. The building shown above, which is of brick and heavy mill construction, fully equipped, is to be used for warehousing of shipments from their factory in Long Island City. Building contains about 80,000 square feet, and S. Scott Joy, District Architect, was the Architect for the building.

Spiegel-May-Stern Company Buildings, 35th Street near CenterAvenue. This concern is one of the largest mail order houses in the country. Upper building is a fireproof office, with large warehouse in the rear. Lower building contains clothing and other departments. First building erected in 1907, last building in 1911. A. S. Alschuler, Architect; E. W. Sproul Company and Abraham Lund Company, General Contractors.

The American Luxfer Prism Co. is a large manufacturer of prism glasses for windows and sidewalks. Building contains about 30,000 square feet of floor space. Brick and concrete construction. Postle & Mahler, Architects.

P. A. Starck Piano Company was formerly located in several sites about Chicago, coming to the Central Manufacturing District from Blue Island Avenue and Robey Street, in the Burlington District, after giving a great deal of study to the various industrial sections of Chicago. The new plant shown above embodies the most advanced features in building construction applied to the piano industries. Maximum light has been provided by the use of the Fenestra Sash Windows, and efficiency of operation throughout has made this plant an ideal one. The building has four floors and basement, is built “L” shape with long sides on Ashland Avenue and 39th Street. Contains 125,900 square feet of floor space. The tower, by reason of the break in Ashland Avenue at this point, commands a view for several blocks south on Ashland Avenue. S. Scott Joy, District Architect; E. W. Sproul Company, General Contractors.

Above is the plant of the White Eagle Brewing Co., 38th Street and South Racine Avenue. This Company took over the building of the Illinois Brewing & Malting Company about 1909. The main buildings which is five stories and basement, contains about 50,000 square feet of space. In addition there is an office building, stables, new boiler rooms, stock rooms, etc. Mr. Leonard Rutkowski is President of this Company. The original building was designed by Fred Gotterdam, Architect.

Machinery Warehouse, 37th Street and Ashland Avenue. The Pfannmueller Engineering Company and the Machinery Warehouse Company occupy the splendid fireproof building shown above. These concerns deal in machinery of all kinds and afford warehouse facilities for such goods for other concerns. Building contains about 60.000 sq. ft. of floor space, is built entirely of brick, concrete, and steel, splendidly lighted, with traveling crane and other equipment necessary for handUng heavy machinery. Erected in 1909. A. S. Alschuler, Architect; J. P. & J. W. O’Connor Co., General Contractors.

Assembling Plant of the Ford Motor Company, located at 39th Street and Wabash Avenue, on Chicago Junction Railway. 3915 Wabash Ave. Assembly started in 1914, ceased in 1924 (moved to 12600 Torrence Ave.)

Chicago Branch building of Ford Motor Company is a six story reinforced concrete structure of latest fireproof pattern, with approximately 230,000 square feet of floor area. Five floors of the building are served by a five-ton traveling crane which handles material to and from freight cars which enter building on second floor by a spur from Chicago Junction Railway.

The purposes of the building are twofold:

Second—to completely assemble Ford cars at the rate of 100 to 150 per day for Chicago district.

In Chicago district is included northwestern Indiana, half of Illinois and eastern Iowa. The assembly of cars as performed in Ford branches does not merely mean that the body is set on chassis and secured in place, but every operation in building the car is performed except that of actually making the parts. To handle this volume of business a force of 400 men is constantly employed in addition to an oflice force of eighty-five.

The Midland Warehouse & Transfer Company operates some of the largest warehouses in the country, all located on the tracks of the Chicago Junction Rail- way, and convenient to the Central Manufacturing District. These warehouses are fully equipped for storage, consolidation, and reconsign shipments of any nature or volume, and the facilities are largely used by the District tenants to supplement their own warehouses during periods when they are accumulating stock to fill future orders. At 43rd and Robey Streets, the Midland Company owns and operates warehouses of heavy mill construction which are equipped with sprinkler system, and which immediately adjoin the Union Freight Station of the Chicago Junction Railway. At 15th and Western Avenue, the company has recently completed an immense concrete warehouse building containing over 500,000 square feet of floor space, and being, in facilities, location, and equipment, the equal of any warehouse wherever located. At the same point, in addition to the main warehouse, the Midland Company also occupies the three upper floors and basement of the 15th and Western Avenue freight station of the Chicago Junction Railway. The Midland Company utilizes electric motors in inter-warehouse transfer of freight, and has several large motor trucks for city deliveries. The company carries a large number of the best known merchandising accounts in the country, including Sears, Roebuck & Co., Montgomery Ward & Co., Hately Cold Storage Co., Cream of Wheat, and others.

The new warehouse of the Midland Warehouse & Transfer Company, shown above, is located between 15th Street and 15th Place, and extends from Western Avenue back to the right-of-way of the Chicago Junction Railway Company. This building is worthy of comment in that it is not only one of the largest and most up-to-date general warehouses in the country, but also because of its particularly attractive design, combined with an ideal arrangement of floor space and facilities for service.

The structure has a frontage of 260 feet on Western Avenue, and a depth of 405 feet. It is five stories and basement, and at intervals of 115 feet on both 15th Street and 15th Place there are 30-foot courts for light, air, and teaming purposes. These courts extend into the building about 60 feet, and at each court fire walls divide the building into three typical floor sections of 30,000 square feet each. At the courts and between the sections are located wide shipping courts, each having provision for three large elevators, thereby giving an ultimate elevator development of twelve high-speed electric machines, each with a capacity of 8,000 pounds. Additional electric hoists, conveyors, etc., will be installed.

The total floor area of the building approximates 600,000 square feet.

At the second floor level three tracks of the Chicago Junction Railway Company enter the building on a fireproofed steel structure. These tracks provide room for thirty (30) cars at one setting, and their location in practically the center of the building, adjacent to wide platforms and the numerous elevators, gives a most economical arrangement for the distribution of freight to and from all parts of the great building.

This building adjoins the Union Freight Station of the Chicago Junction Railway, and a connecting platform between the two buildings will provide for the most expeditious transfer of freight on four-wheeled trucks hauled by electric motors. Inasmuch as the Junction receives freight for every trunk line entering Chicago, the importance of this location from a strategical standpoint is quite evident.

The exterior of the building is of dark red pressed brick trimmed with enamel terra cotta. The construction is of reinforced concrete with 13-inch curtain walls of brick, and the story heights are as follows:

The thickness of the floor slab varies from 9½ to 13 inches according to the allowable live loads, which are as follows:

1st Floor 350 lbs., 2nd Floor 300 lbs., 3d Floor 250 lbs., 4th and 5th Floors 200 lbs.

The Leonard type of flat slab construction with four-way reinforcement was used, the typical bays being 18 feet 6 inches x 18 feet 8 inches. Interior columns are both round and octagonal and are reinforced both spirally and longitudinally. All windows are of Fenestra steel sash and exposed areas are protected with wire glass. The window lighting throughout this building is exceptional and most efficient.

The building is equipped with automatic sprinklers fed from a 50,000-gallon gravity tank and a 1,000-gallon per minute electric fire pump. The building is heated and fully provided with electric lighting and plumbing equipment.

Mr. S. Scott Joy, Architect for the Central Manufacturing District, was architect for the building, and Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation, the General Contractor.

Chicago Tribune, November 19, 1916

The announcement of the great warehouse building to be erected for the occupancy of Montgomery Ward & Co., west of Ashland avenue and south of Thirty-ninth street, in the Central Manufacturing district, was not only the most important feature of the week’s market in a development way. but. together with the other transactions reported in the district, is also one of the most significant transactions of this character la. recent years. They should have a marked effect on land values throughout that section of the city.

The trustees of the district, John A. Spoor and Arthur G. Leonard, are to erect a six story building, in six sections, each of which is to be 120×250 feet, all to contain approximately 1,080,000 square feet of floor space, not counting the basement.

Work on Building Started.
Four are to be rushed to immediate completion, the work of excavation having begun already. The construction will be of reinforced concrete, pressed brick, with terra cotta trim. The cost of the initial four sections will be about $1,250,000, and the entire six units $1,750,000. The building has been leased to Ward & Co for twenty-five years at a reported term rental of approximately $6,000,000, with a provision for a renewal for an additional twenty-five years.

The building will be located about a half mile west of Ashland avenue and 200 feet south of Thirty-ninth street, and will be served by the Chicago Junction railroad. Between the building and Thirty-ninth street will be located the new central power plant of the district, with large parkways and flower beds on each side.

The units, or sections, are to be joined by connecting courtways. with freight elevators surrounded by shipping space in each court. The entire building will be equipped with twenty large electric freight elevators and numerous automatic conveyors. No place in the building will have less than 250 pounds to the square foot loading capacity.

Extends Over Bubbly Creek.
It is interesting to note that the building will extend for about forty feet into the notorious and malodorous Bubbly creek, which, however, has already been filled in at this point. It is understood to be the purpose of Ward & Co. to transport considerable tonnage from their present warehouse at Chicago avenue and the north branch to the new location by lighters on the Chicago river.

In a statement by J. Charles Maddison, vice president xf Ward & Co.. as to the reasons for securing the new location, he said in part:

Tries Warehouse Plan.
About three years ago we began to experiment with a plan for carrying this kind of merchandise in warehouses, with the idea that if the trade approved and the freight could be successfully handled we would eventually largely abandon the direct shipment from factory to customer in favor of shipment direct from warehouse, at which stock had been accumulated in large quantities.

In accordance with this idea, we located a small warehouse in the central manufacturing district, as well as crtrrled some merchandise in various outside warehouses. ‘The plan has been so successful we have decided to go much further in this warehouse project, wholly on a service basis.

While this means In no way any dissatisfaction with our present location at Chicago avenue and the river, it is our belief that to add to our already large tonnage at this plant the enormous volume of tonnage we contemplate handling through this new warehouse would tend to confusion, loss of effl-.situatlon ciency, and increased operating cost.

Plan $20,000,000 Improvements.
It is estimated that the total improvements In the new 100 acre addition to the district will eventually cost around $20,000,000. The buildings already under construction, designed by S. Scott Joy, district architect, will require 3,000 tons of steel, over 100,000 barrels of cement, 50,000 cubic yards of gravel, and 30,000 cubic yards of sand.

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¹ “Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch” is a 1901 novel by Alice Hegan Rice about a southern family humorously coping with poverty. The book is set in white turn-of-the-century urban slum. It premiered as a play on Broadway in 1904 and in 1905 was performed in Chicago at the Grand Opera House. It has been made into four films in 1914, 1919, 1934 and 1942.

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