Property Record
799 WISCONSIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Uniroyal Tire Plant; Gillette Safety Tire Co. |
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| Other Name: | Banbury Place |
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| Reference Number: | 41915 |
| Location (Address): | 799 WISCONSIN ST |
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| County: | Eau Claire |
| City: | Eau Claire |
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| Year Built: | 1912 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1997 |
| Historic Use: | industrial bldg/manufacturing facility |
| Architectural Style: | Astylistic Utilitarian Building |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. Eau Claire's Uniroyal plant is located on the north side of the Eau Claire River on land formerly owned by the Northwestern Lumber Company. The sprawling plant composed of numerous structures covers approximately thirty six acres of land. The four story building situated at the northeast corner of Putnam and Wisconsin Streets is the former International Harvester building constructed in c. 1912 (first appears at this address in 1912 city directory) which was purchased by the company in 1947. A photo of this building is contained in Eau Claire, Wisconsin (c. 1918), a pamphlet published by the Civic and Commerce Association. It is available at the Chippewa Valley Museum. In November, 1915, it was announced that the Gillette Safety Tire Company had purchased land for a plant on the city's north side. According to one newspaper account, the deciding factor in the selection of Eau Claire was the availability if cheap power furnished by the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light and Power Company. Within a year the first structure was completed and additional capital was acquired. On May 23, 1917, the first "Gillette Safety Tire" was produced. By the end of 1917 production stood at 500 tires and 500 tubes per day. Rapid expansion marked the next few years as additional buildings were erected and others purchased, including the Chippewa Valley Rubber Co. which was organized in 1917 and located just east of the tire manufacturer. In 1920 the company employed 809 people. Research was also important to the growing concern. One of the most significant changes in tire production was the water cure process for inner tubes, invented by Eau Claire resident, L.A. Laursen. The Gillette Company was the pioneer in the use of this new process. In 1931 the United States Rubber Company purchased a large interest in the firm and nine years later took complete control of the plant. The Uniroyal name was added in 1966. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Building inscription. (B) File at Chippewa Valley Museum containing newspaper articles about Gillette Tire Co., Uniroyal's predecessor. (C) Barland, L. 1965. The Rivers Flow On, p. 301-303. (D) Eau Claire Industrial Review, 1955, p. 45-46. (E) Eau Claire Leader, Dec. 5, 1915, p. 5b. (F) Eau Claire Leader, March 24, 1925, p. 1, 7. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |