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Property Location
Property Features
The George W. Borg Corporation is significant under Criterion A: Industry for its innovations and contributions in the field of mechanical devices and the field of textiles; specifically, pile fabrics. Constructed in 1943 for the Borg Corporation’s Thomas B. Gibbs Company Division, the building was used as a manufacturing facility to fulfill government contracts for war materiel during World War II. Products included mechanical time fuzes for anti-aircraft shells for which the Gibbs Division developed a machine to manufacture adjusting nuts that increased the rate of fuze production. Following the war, the George W. Borg Corporation received commendations from United States Navy and Army ordnance officials for their contributions to fuze development. The subject building also reflects the expansion of the nation’s workforce during World War II when the Borg Corporation recruited and employed significant numbers of women within the Thomas B. Gibbs Company Division. Following the war, the newly created Borg Fabric Division occupied the building and its success led to the construction of a three-story addition in 1956. Investing significant sums of capital and resources for research and development, the Borg Fabric Division made advancements in the production of knitted pile fabrics using synthetic fibers. Although also used for home furnishing and industrial applications, the majority of Borg’s deep-pile fabric production was intended for the apparel industry; specifically, the area of fur-like garments and similar uses including linings and coat trim. The George W. Borg Corporation is credited as a pioneer in the field of pile fabrics by its competitors within the industry. An innovator in pile fabric production, Borg Corporation received numerous patents for their equipment, fabrics and associated process of manufacture throughout the 1950s and 1960s when the industry rapidly grew. Among these was a patent issued in 1955 for their trademark Borgana fabric. During the period of significance (1943-1969), the Borg Fabric Division operated both day and night shifts in the subject building at a time when the George W. Borg Corporation was the largest employer within the City of Delavan.
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
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820 E WISCONSIN ST
100004953
Located in Delavan, Walworth County
218 East South Island Street
16000228
Located in Appleton, Outagamie County
Consolidated War Work
1943
An unidentified employee of the Plastics Division of the Consolidated Paper Company prepares for a strength test of a product being developed by the company for use in the manufacture of gliders fo...
Madison-Kipp Corporation
1958
Madison-Kipp Corporation, 2824 Atwood Avenue entrance. The building was built in 1918 by the US government to manufacture guns for World War I. It was owned by Steinle Machine Co. after the war an...
