| Additional Information: | This manufacturing facility was constructed in 1940 by the Zierden Machine & Manufacturing Company. Established by Francis "Frank" P. Zierden, the company's incorporation notification in 1944 noted operations were to, "manufacture, construct, repair, remodel, alter, buy, sell and deal in machinery, appliances, parts of machines and appliances." Early production consisted of "Water Boy" garden hose reels for home use featuring both portable and basement installed models. By 1950, the business was referred to as, Zierden Co., and was expanding reel production for industrial use as described below.
"The Zierden Co... is concentrating current efforts on a new line of five types of reels designed for plant protection use. The S. Kinnickinnic Avenue company, which began in 1939 to manufacture its special type of fixed reels for the home stowage of garden hoses, also has adapted the loose-coiled application (as opposed to tight-winding spindles) to mobile units such as fire trucks... Zierden reels, with special modifications adopted after cooperation with the Milwaukee Fire Department in its training school, have been made part of the fire fighting equipment on trucks of the Sussex, Wis. and the Cudahy fire departments... The U.S. Army Research and Development laboratory at Ft. Belvoir, Va., currently is testing the use of the Zierden reel on fire fighting equipment which needs to function at 65 degrees below zero... Because fire-fighting will be a prominent part of civil defense in industry, the Zierden Co., is aiming much of its new line at the plant protection market." ("Zierden Hose Reels in New Plant Safety Role," Milwaukee Sentinel, July 8, 1951, page 39)
Frank Zierden received a number of patents for his hose reel and hose housing inventions. In 1951, Zierden Company placed its patented reel on exhibition in New York, Britain and Germany. In 1974, the Zierden Company moved to a larger manufacturing facility at 7355 S. First Street, Oak Creek where they remain today. In addition to serving as president of the firm he founded, Frank Zierden also was a member of the board of directors of the Cudahy Vocational School Board (1945-1969) and, later, served in the same capacity for Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) (1969-1977). He retired from Zierden Company in 1986 and died September 20, 1991. |
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| Bibliographic References: | "Zierden Hose Reels in New Plant Safety Role," Milwaukee Sentinel, July 8, 1951, Page 39
"Wisconsin Corporations," The Capital Times, June 4, 1944, Page 28
"Boy's Dislike for Dirty Chore Begets Superior Hose Reel," Milwaukee Sentinel, May 9, 1948, Page 27
"Varied New Products Made by Ingenious Manufacturers," The Milwaukee Journal, February 5, 1950, Page 43
Photo and caption, The Milwaukee Journal, June 18, 1950, Page 43
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