Beaver Brand Hats - New Haven, MO - Iconic Factories on Waymarking.com

County of building: Franklin County
Location of building: Maupin St. & Wall St., SE corner, New Haven
Built: 1900
Original Occupant: Langenberg Hat Company
Architectural Style: Brick Industrial

"You don’t have to be a hat-wearer to be sad or nostalgic about this factory closing. Beaver Brand Hats dates back to 1860, when the line got its start in St. Louis.

"In cleaning out the plant and preparing for the auction, Klabzuba found a small notebook that lists the company’s “genealogy.”

"It began as Gauss-Hunicke & Company in 1860, he said. The name changed slightly over the next 40 years, to Gauss Hunicke Hat Company in 1881, to Gauss-Shelton Hat Company in 1886 to Gauss-Langenberg Hat Company in 1901.

"In 1918, the company took on the name many in this area remember so well — Langenberg Hat Company

"The name changed again in 1938 to Harris Langenberg Hat Co. and then back to Langenberg Hat Company in 1955." ~ emissourian

"15. Wall Street - Langenberg Hat Factory (# 108)
The original building at this corner location was constructed ca. 1890 and originally housed the Robert Gruebbel Store. This property was purchased in 1928 and the building was enlarged into the Langenberg Hat Factory. This business was one of New Haven's major employers of the 20th century. In 1956, it employed 150 workers and in its peak years produced nearly 500,000 hats per year. The factory continues to remain in operation and is the only manufacturing facility within the historic district. This is a two-story brick industrial building constructed in three sections. The oldest building is located at the corner of Wall and Maupin Avenues, and has three bays on the Wall Street façade. This section was constructed ca. 1895 and was known as the Robert Gruebbel General Store. This store remained in operation until 1915 and the building was remodeled extensively in 1928 when additions were placed on its east façade to house the Langenberg Hat Factory. The building has a stone and concrete foundation and flat roof of rolled roofing. Windows on the first story were originally arched but larger ca. 1940 steel awning and hopper windows were added. The upper floor windows have been similarly altered on the Maupin Avenue façade. Windows on the second story of the Wall Street façade retain segmental arches but have added steel windows. The second building was constructed ca. 1940 and has steel awning and hopper windows. This section has a full basement with an entrance in Wall Street with an overhead track door. The third section was built ca. 1940 and has a gable roof of metal standing seam, steel awning windows and a sliding track door. Windows on the middle section have metal awnings. The south wall of the third section has crimped steel panels. The interior has a concrete floor and open floor space. On the south façade is a ca. 1970 one-story metal wing with a gable roof.(C)" ~ NRHP Nomination Form

"Architectural Description: This is a two-story brick industrial building constructed in three sections. The oldest building is located at the corner of Wall and Maupin Streets, and has three bays on the Wall Street façade. This section was constructed ca. 1900 and remodeled extensively in 1928. The building has a stone and concrete foundation and flat roof of rolled roofing. Windows on the first story were originally arched but larger ca. 1940 steel awning and hipper windows were added. The upper floor windows have been similarly altered on the Maupin Street façade. Windows on the second story of the Wall Street façade retain segmental arches but have added steel windows.

"The second building was constructed ca. 1940 and has steel awning and hopper windows. This section has a full basement with an entrance in Wall Street with an overhead track door. The third section was built ca. 1940 and has a gable roof of metal standing seam, steel awning windows and a sliding track door. Windows on the middle section have metal awnings. The south wall of the third section has crimped steel panels.

"Historical Data: The Langenberg Hat Co. was established in 1928. This is one of New Haven's oldest operating industries. The business is one of the city's largest employers, having been in operation since 1928." ~ DNR Historic Survey  PDF page 1023