Property Record
613 E BEACON AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Edison Wood Products Comany |
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| Other Name: | Simmons Juvenile Products Co., Inc. |
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| Reference Number: | 73876 |
| Location (Address): | 613 E BEACON AVE |
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| County: | Outagamie |
| City: | New London |
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| Year Built: | 1891 |
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| Additions: | 1920 |
| Survey Date: | 1981 |
| Historic Use: | industrial building |
| Architectural Style: | Astylistic Utilitarian Building |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | Yes |
| Demolished Date: | 2009 |
| 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, Division of Historic Preservation. Photo codes: OU/FRV 3:15-20. The Simmons Juvenile Products Co. Inc. was originally built by H.G. Andrae, who set up shop to make screen doors in 1891. He later switched to furniture because the screen door venture failed. The furniture venture also failed and the business went bankrupt in 1899. In that year the company was bought by the Wisconsin Seating Company. They manufactured chairs, including opera seats. In 1917 Thomas A. Edison, Inc. of Orange, New Jersey purchased the plant to make phonograph cabinets until 1927. Due to expansion of the radios popularity, phonographs were no longer in high demand and Edison's radio design was not ready for mass production. In order to keep the company on its feet, production was switched to furniture for children. In January, 1967 Simmons Company, a subsidary of Gulf Western, purchased the assets and renamed the company Simmons Juvenile Products. It still manufactures "little folks" furniture and employs 270-300 people year round. Simmons became a subsidiary of Gulf Western in 1978. The Simmons Juvenile Products Co. includes roughly 15 buildings, with 300,000 sq. ft. of floor space. There are four major structures, one of which was constructed in 1891. The building (#1 on the map) is a 2 1/2 story brick building with a brick foundation and a square floor plan. It was used as the boiler room. It has a gabled roof. This building is in danger of demolition as part of a remodeling program. Building #2 is a three story structure with a square floor plan, built in the early 1920s. The original foundation was brick but stone was later added for repairs. The building measures 50x 50 ft. and has a low gabled roof. Building #3, the largest structure, is a 4 story building with a black cement foundation and a rectangular floor plan. The exterior walls are brick and intact. This building was also constructed in the early 1920s during a plant expansion. Building #4 is a three story structure which is connected to a newer one story building. The foundation is wood, along with the exterior walls. It has a slope flat roof with an irregular floor plan. There is no date of construction on this building. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A.) New London Press-Star, "Edison Sent Signed autograph When She Married," November 15, 1979. (B.) Lyle Brumm, A GENERAL HISTORY OF NEW LONDON, 1896, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, housed in Area Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. (C.) Richard Lundin, controller, interviewed by Bill Meindl, 06/1980. New London Remembered Trolley Tour brochure, 2013. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |