Property Record
12001 W CAPITOL DR
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | FALK CORPORATION PLANT #2 |
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| Other Name: | PENZY'S SPICES OFFICES, STORE & WAREHOUSE |
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| Reference Number: | 233287 |
| Location (Address): | 12001 W CAPITOL DR |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Wauwatosa |
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| Year Built: | 1958 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2016 |
| Historic Use: | industrial bldg/manufacturing facility |
| Architectural Style: | International Style |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | The Falk Corporation, which began as a Milwaukee Brewery, branched out into manufacturing in the late nineteenth century producing wagon couplings, then electric street car supplies, cast-welding, and eventually industrial gears and powerhouses. With its main plant in Milwaukee, the Falk Corporation pioneered the development and manufacture of the reversing gear in the middle of the twentieth century. In 1958, the Falk Corporation expanded their production to Wauwatosa with a new power transmission manufacturing plant. In 1968, Falk became a subsidiary of the Sundstrand Company and an additional warehouse was constructed on the site in 1973. The plant was renovated in 1985, and an additional warehouse and gatehouse were added to the Falk Corporation site. In 2005, Falk, recently purchased by Rexnord Corporation, relocated their transmission manufacturing back to their central Milwaukee location and sold the 290,000-square foot property at 12001 West Capitol Drive to Penzey’s Spices for use as a warehouse and distribution center. |
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| Bibliographic References: | Hazelton, Joseph. ‘A Winding Path into the Gear Industry: The Falk Corp.,’ Gear Technology, July 2004. ‘Penzey’s Spices moving headquarters to Wauwatosa,’ Milwaukee Business Journal, August 19, 2005. Wauwatosa Public Library general history files. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |