News Article, 1948, Swigart Paper Company, Cook County, Illinois This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sheila Swigart Fichtner ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ Swigart Paper Company, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois NEWS RELEASE-- MAY 20, 1948 "Historically the Swigart Paper Company will celebrate its 50th birthday- July 1, 1948 - having completed a half century of successful business. In the year 1898, Mr. P .D. Swigart and his three sons - Lyman, Carrol (sic), and John - entered into the paper merchandising business with offices in what was then known as the Garden City Block, located at the northwest corner of Randolph and Wells and shortly thereafter at 120 S. Franklin Street, which offered further opportunity for expansion. It was in 1908 - forty years ago - that the company moved to South Wells Street, and finally in 1923 - to its present location, 717-723 S. Wells Street, in which year a modern ten story concrete re-enforced building was erected, with all known modern improvements and facilities to accomodate (sic) the papers manufactured by paper mills of nationwide prominence and thereby made available to our customers. In this connection it is of utmost importance to mention the Gallery of Printed Ideas which has played an important part in promoting the use of Better Printing Papers, domestic and foreign, and also offering inspiration and ideas to our customers, a valuable service that stimulates business and has had a far reaching benefit to many. Looking back over the years, we are proud of the progress that has been made and the position the company occupies. As an agent of the best nationally known paper mills, the Swigart Paper Company occupies a singular position. We now find ourselves facing a new era, the start of a new fifty years, where at this moment rapid advancement is taking place in modern methods, new innovations in machinery and equipment for all types of printing, lithography, engraving, etc. - larger machines, greater production, which in our opinion requires a corresponding expansion in modern methods, of the Swigart Paper Company in order to keep a pace with and render to our mill connections a constant outlet for their product and to our customers an adequate supply of Standard Printing Papers in a wide assortment of grades. It is with this thought in mind that the officers of the Swigart Paper Company (Mr. John D. Swigart - President and Treasurer, Mr. E. A. Rohrer - Executive Vice President, and Mr. Arthur M. Kracke - Secretary) together with the Directors of the company, have authorized the erection of a new and modern warehouse in addition to our present building to provide for further expansion and development. After a search of over two years for a suitable building that would permit the use of modern methods and equipment, it became apparent that such a building was not to be had, and in order to get what was required, it would be necessary to find the right location and build a modern one story building. In the selection of the location these features were foremost - accessability (sic) to modern trucking equipment and rail facilities. Such a piece of vacant property was selected on the main right-of-way of the Illinois Central Railroad, running west for 500 feet to Iglehart Avenue, just south of the 26th street address. The plans for this warehouse call for freight car facilities for eight cars (eight doors) on the north side of the building - on the west, a recess loading area to accomodate (sic) five highway trucks - both freight car and truck floor level. The total area will cover about 65,000 square feet of floor space - there will be no posts or obstructions of any kind - and an average height of twenty feet for piling with modern mechanized equipment to handle rolls, skids or pallets. The heating plant will be located under the warehouse office, equipped for dual heating, oil or coal. The total expenditure will amount to about a half million dollars and will require six to eight months to complete." SWIGART PAPER COMPANY *************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ************************************************************ This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sheila Swigart Fichtner