No. 23—MMVI-MMVII
Emerson Lofts Edition
Emerson Factory Opens For Business
T
he Emerson Typewriter
Factory is fast nearing
completion and preparations are being made for the
grand opening, which promises
to be a big event.
The opening is to take place
on Thursday, April 21, 1910. At
six o’clock a banquet will be
served to the stockholders.
Beginning at 8:30 a musical
entertainment and dance will be
given to which everybody is
cordially
invited
without
charge. A big time is planned
and the management wants
everybody to come to the
entertainment and hear the
music and participate in the
general good time.
After the opening the company will begin moving immediately and it is expected that the
plant will be in running order
by May 15.
On last Monday morning a
new addition was started. This
is a separate building, 50x8- feet,
The above is a picture of the new Emerson typewriter building in Woodstock, as it will appear after the grading is completed and grounds
are beautified. The cost of the plant is expected to be upwards of $40,000.
and is to be used as polishing
and plating rooms. The contacts
have been let as follows: brick
work, Giertz; carpenter work,
Cunningham; heating, Whitons
and plumbing, Nichols.
The Emerson Typewriter
Company which is moving its
Congratulations to
Meets
Emerson Contractors Committee
to Study
on a Job Well Done Tonight
Celebration Plans
The Emerson typewriter factory
is a thing of beauty and there are
many people to thank. The
mason work was done by Chas.
E. Giertz & Son of Elgin, who
have done much work in our
city with much credit to themselves and entire satisfaction to
the people employing them. The
carpenter work was done by S.E.
Cunningham, who has no superior in his line. The heating plant
was installed by W.H. Whitson.
It is what is called a vacuum system, similar to the one installed
by that firm in the Ritt building
on Main Street two years ago.
The firm has already installed a
large number of plants in this
city and are in successful operation. The plumbing was done by
D.B. Nichols, whose wide experience in this line is a guarantee
of good work. We offer congratulations for a job well done to all
who helped bring jobs to our
fair city.
Formative plans of celebrating
the opening of city hall
opera house, on Sept. 4,
1940, with its municipal
offices, including the Woodstock Public Library, will be
studied tonight at the city
council’s committee meeting.
Current plans of the celebration include an open house
of the city opera house building during the afternoon
and evening. Entertainment
of historical episodes will be
given in the evening on the
opera house stage. These
episodes will include the reenacting of the literary
library association’s gift to
the public library, a city
council member said. The
highlight of the opening
ceremonies will be the presentation of the three act
opera “Margery Daw.”
manufacturing plant from
Momence, Ill., to Woodstock,
cites the value of its new factory
at $40,000. The title of the
property is to remain with the
improvement committee for
three years and then if the
company was making and mar-
keting at least 10 typewriters a
day the site and factory will be
turned over to it.
The good people of
Woodstock are right up and
doing and we hope their dream
of ten thousand population will
soon be a reality.
Days of 1890 Recalled in Three Acts
As Part of Golden Celebration
Bustles, basques, polonaise
skirts, and leg o’ mutton sleeves
for the ladies, and Prince Albert
coats, tight fitting trousers, and
high collars, touched off with
the ever present mustache, for
the men, the characteristic dress
of the 1890’s, made the setting
for the three episode story
depicted last night at the opera
house as the climaxing event n
the fiftieth anniversary celebration held in conjunction with the
grand opening of Woodstock’s
city hall building.
In the first scene, set in the
parlor of a Woodstock home in
1890, Woodstock’s leading citizens of the day gathered to suggest the advantages of a library
in our fair city.
Crowd Enjoys Council Meeting
The reading of the minutes,
in the second scene, a meeting of
the city hall, and the taking of
roll call by City Clerk, Chas. A.
Lemmers, characterized by
Sherman Morse took down the
house, which was paced for the
The Woodstock City Hall building.
evening’s review of the days of
half a century ago.
The third and last episode, a
scene in Woodstock’s public
library in 1890, showed the
small beginning of what is considered on of this city’s most
valued institutions. Many visitors inspected the library and
city offices following the dramatization. Miss Laura Wandrack,
our new librarian, announced
the exhibits will be open to the
public hereafter.
P.2
The Emerson Typewriter Factory has been transformed into Emerson Lofts, stunning new residential lofts. Once again, the building is a jewel in the crown of the historic city of Woodstock.
Emerson Lofts Opens in Woodstock
The Emerson Typewriter factory, originally built in the early
1900’s,
has
served
the
Woodstock community in a
variety of functions for nearly
100 years. Now, this exceptional and unique building is being
transformed into 52 stunning
residential lofts.
Dave Plote and Kurt Kresmery
purchased the property from
the Woodstock Wire Works in
September 2004. The earlytwentieth century building is an
excellent example of the type of
commercial architecture that
was being designed and built at
that time. Attractively detailed
brickwork, and large paned
windows are two of the hallmarks of this style. Plote and
Kresmery fell in love with the
building and shared a vision for
creating a truly different type of
living in Woodstock. "You can
have city-like living right here
in
historic
downtown
Woodstock", says Kresmery.
The two took advantage of the
building's natural features, and
created floorplans that made
the most of the size and proportions of the vast space. The
building's existing features
were utilized to their full extent
- vintage brick and masonry are
left exposed. Skylights, which
flooded the original factory
space with light, now do the
same with the loft homes.
Ceilings have been stripped
down to expose their huge tim-
ber beams and wood structure.
"The details were great, and
added a lot to the personality of
the lofts", Kresmery states.
With that said, no two homes
will be the same. The luxurious
one, two and three bedroom
lofts range is size from 961 –
2279 square feet.
"The location of the building is
great because of its proximity to
the train and to the square.
Residents of Emerson Lofts have
everything they need right here."
The Builder Story
Kurt Kresmery of Elgin and
David R. Plote, now a local resident, give new life to an
important, historic building
and the formulation of
Emerson Lofts L.L.C.
Each of these seasoned construction and development
entrepreneurs have over 20
years experience working with
and for companies like: Plote
Construction
Inc.;
Par
Development; Rental Systems;
Fairway Realty and Repco. The
array of commercial, industrial
and residential projects they
have completed to date is proof
and insurance of the quality
and caliber the residents of
Emerson Lofts will enjoy. This
project is truly a better and different type of living thanks to
their vision and expertise.
A Birds Eye View Of The Lofts
These luxurious one & two bedroom lofts
range in size from 961 - 2,279 square feet, and
are easily accessible from both Route 47 and
the Metra train.
Emerson Lofts LLC's policy of continual attention to design and construction requires that all specific designs, specifications, features, materials and prices be subject to change without notice.
Room dimensions are approximate and may vary depending on residence selected. Depicted floor plans, landscaping and exterior styling are only an artist's interpretation.
N
P.3
Woodstock is alive
in history and
popular culture
Historic downtown Woodstock
has many claims to fame, but
being featured in the movie
Groundhog Day is one of it’s
most popular. The Square features a small plaque that marks
the spot where the movie's
weatherman, played by Bill
Murray repeatedly stomps into
a puddle. The bell tower that
the weatherman leaps from is
actually the Woodstock Opera
House, which regularly presents concerts and plays. Every
winter the town celebrates
Groundhog Days with activities that include free screenings
of the movie and walking tours
of filming sites. Other times of
the year you can take a selfguided tour with a map provided by the Woodstock
Chamber of Commerce. Living
here connects you with history
in a way few other places do.
A Town Dick Tracy Calls Home
artwork, photographs, memorabilia, and even his own drawing board
and chair. And after that, you can
dine like a jailbird in the Jailhouse
Restaurant, which has turned some
of the Court House’s former jail
cells into dining areas.
WA
SH
IN
GT
ON
3
CLAY ST.
Woodstock honors Dick Tracy and
it’s creator, Chester Gould, at the
Chester Gould-Dick Tracy Museum,
located in Woodstock's historic Old
Court House & Sheriff's House
complex. Gould's hometown museum showcases much of his original
ST
.
AREA
MAP
47
STATION
6
W JACKSON ST.
1
8
9
Swiss Made Bakery
7
5
1
11 Angelo’s Restaurant
E JUDD ST.
2 Chop Suey Hut
2
SEMINARY ST.
TRYON ST.
THROOP ST.
JUDD ST.
Old Courthouse Arts Center
MADISON ST.
2
BENTON ST.
3
MAIN ST.
CHURCH ST.
3 El Palmar Taqueria & Restaurant
3
44 Harvest Moon Cafe
5 Jailhouse Restaurant
5
66 La Azteca II
E JACKSON ST.
1
10 Starbucks Coffee
10
Woodstock Theatre
Blazier’s Pharmacy
1
Chester Gould-Dick Tracey Museum
2
Woodstock Opera House
City of Woodstock/City Hall
Woodstock Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
N
IO
UN
.
ST
KE
LA
W
N/
IC
CIF
PA
E.
AV
KE
LA
JEFFERSON ST.
CALHOUN ST.
2
SOUTH ST.
8 Sweet William‘s Tea Room
8
9 Woodstock Public House
9
4
DEAN ST.
VAN BUREN ST.
10 2
1
77 Pirro’s Restaurante
1
E
LIN
1
Bank One
2
Harris Bank
3
Amcore
1
Woodstock Square Park
1
Rain Tree Park
P.4
The Woodstock Typewriter Factory in 1930 under ownership by A.C. Roebuck. Some typewriters produced during this time bear the Roebuck name.
History is Typed Out at the
Emerson Typewriter Factory
In the spring of 1910, the
Emerson Typewriter Company
moved its typewriter manufacturing equipment to Woodstock,
Ill. A few years later Richard W.
Sears purchased the plant and
with the assistance of is former
partner, A.C. Roebuck, and
developed the Woodstock
Typewriter. By 1922, about half
the world's typewriters were
made in Woodstock. The
Woodstock typewriter was
produced continuously until
August, 1947. During the latter
part of this period the plant was
operated by the Sears estate.
Because of the death of members in the Sears family, the
Woodstock Typewriter Co. was
purchased by Century America
corporation.
Soon after, R.C. Allen Business
Machines, Inc. purchased the
Woodstock Typewriter Co. from
Century America Corporation
on January 10, 1950. R.C. Allen
began as a can company in
Grand Rapids, Michigan in the
mid 1930’s. However, during
World War II the company started
to focus on manufacturing
highly delicate instruments for
airplanes.
Today, R.C. Allen is the leading manufacturer of instruments
for airplanes, helicopters and
military tanks. They are now
made in by the Kelly Mfg.
Company in Wichita, Kansas.
Members of the Keyboard Club join for a meeting in Woodstock City Park.
The Yanks Are
On the Move!
YOU CAN HELP!
EMERSON TYPEWRITER
Keep Them Moving
WE NEED MORE WORKERS
MEN AND WOMEN
YOUNG AND OLD
From 16 Years Up
MAKE APPLICATION NOW
Belts and straps galore hang from Cleveland Automatic Screw Machines in a department
at the Oliver Typewriter Company plant. Workers can be seen, blurred by their movement,
behind the machines on the right.