Property Record
910 BROADWAY ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | NATIONAL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO.; PHOENIX FURN. |
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| Other Name: | Perk's Truck & Auto Repair |
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| Reference Number: | 31848 |
| Location (Address): | 910 BROADWAY ST |
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| County: | Eau Claire |
| City: | Eau Claire |
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| Year Built: | 1888 |
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| Additions: | C. 1897 |
| Survey Date: | 1981 |
| Historic Use: | industrial building |
| Architectural Style: | Astylistic Utilitarian Building |
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| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | The former National Electric Manufacturing Co. and Phoenix Furniture Co. is a two story red brick structure which has been altered. According to the 1889 Sanborn Map and to the description in Eau Claire Illustrated the original structure was roughly L-shaped (see photo in Eau Claire Illustraed) and featured large segmental arch openings and a cupola designating the main entrance. The building was enlarged to the south at least by 1897. An excellent photo of the expanded version is contained in the Souvenir pamphlet. Alterations to the structure incude parapets, new windows, removal of the cupola, and various additions. The small gable roofed building to the east of the main strcuture was formerly a warehouse. The building was originally occupied by the National Electric Manufacturing Co., an industrial concern organized in 1888. The company produced dynamos, equipment for incandescent lighting, and electric motors and power generators for furnishing power to manufacturers. George Shaw, son of Daniel Shaw (see Intensive Survey Final Report), was the firm's manager from 1889 to 1892 (B,C). In 1899 The Phoenix Furniture Co., an off-shoot of the Phoenix Manufacturing Company (Forest and Wisconsin Streets, 4L/7), moved into the building. The furniture company's first officers were H.P. Slawson, president; J.H. Roberts, vice-president; C.B. Daniel, treasurer; E.B. Slawson, secretary and manager, and T.A. Hobbs, superintendent (E). Like the Pioneer Furniture Company (Maxon and N. Oxford, 3L/14), the Phoenix Furniture Company was an important addition to the city's manufacturing base. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) 1889, 1897, 1931 Sanborn-Perris Maps/ (B) Eau Claire Illustrated, 1891-92, p. 89, photo on p. 44. (C) The Columbian Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery...1895, p. 630. (D) Souvenir, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, c. 1905. (E) Eau Claire Weekly Telegram February 23, 1899. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |