Myers, Peter, Pork Packing Plant and Willard Coleman Building - Janesville, WI
N 42° 41.055 W 089° 01.440
16T E 334182 N 4727738
This building was constructed by Peter Myers on March 19, 1851. He used it for his Pork Packing Plant for many years. It is located at 117-123 N Main St in Janesville, WI.
Waymark Code: WM2EZC
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 10/22/2007
Views: 24
This building was constructed by Peter Myers on March 19, 1851. He used it for his Pork Packing Plant for many years. It is located at 117-123 N Main St in Janesville, WI.
From the University of Wisconsin Digital Collection:
"These buildings contained the pork packing business established and operated by Peter Myers. Myers (1819-1888) was born in France and learned the trade of a butcher in the United States as a young man. In 1845 he arrived in Janesville. His first business was a meat market, but he soon turned to pork packing. He acquired considerable wealth at this enterprise, and built a number of other commercial buildings including the Myers Hotel, the Myers Opera House, the Myers Armory Block, the Galbraith Stables, and the Young America Block. Myers was also an investor in a number of early firms in the city, including the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, the Rock County National Bank, two railroads, and the Janesville Cotton Mills.
The facade of 119-121 is treated very simply, while 123 has more elaborate brickwork at the window arches and cornice. The first story retains its cast-iron columns.
By 1870, the first floor of the block was subdivided. The pork packing plant continued in operation, but a gas steam fitter's shop occupied 119."