Five buildings in Louisville officially certified as Mesker Buildings

LOUISVILLE - Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) Director Jan Grimes today certified the buildings at 128 South Church, 166-168 South Church, 155 South Main, 125 East Broadway, and 140 East Chestnut in Louisville as Mesker Buildings, acknowledging their place on the state's growing list of buildings with ornamental sheet metal and cast iron facades produced by the Mesker brothers around the turn of the 20th century. All five buildings in Louisville feature elements manufactured by the George L. Mesker & Company of Evansville, Indiana.

An official IHPA certificate confirming this designation will be delivered to the buildings' owners on Tuesday, November 18.

"We asked the public to help us identify Mesker Buildings in their communities, and these facades are an example of the phenomenal response we have received," said Grimes. "We have been able to vastly increase the knowledge of our common heritage as a result of this Mesker ‘detective work.'"

The IHPA launched an effort in May 2005 to identify commercial buildings in the state with Mesker facades. The agency created a website, www.gotmesker.com, to enlist public assistance and urged citizens to examine buildings in their communities that might fit the profile. The response was unprecedented, with previously unidentified Mesker buildings located in nearly every area of the state. To date, 696 Mesker facades in 253 Illinois communities have been identified.

"Meskers" are found across America. However, because the companies that made the components were based in the Midwest, they are particularly plentiful in Illinois and are part of the state's rich architectural history.

The Mesker Brothers Iron Works of St. Louis, Missouri and the George L. Mesker Company of Evansville, Indiana produced prefabricated architectural elements and building facades from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The two firms, owned by brothers but operating independently, best demonstrate the mass-produced building parts trade at the turn of the century.

The Meskers specialized in ornamental facades and storefront components which were ordered through catalogs and easily shipped by rail to any interested building owner. Their extensive product lines also featured entire storefront assemblies, fences, skylights and freight elevators. Made of galvanized steel and cast iron, durable Mesker facades often survive despite occasional neglect or lack of maintenance. Their attractive prices made the components especially desirable for small businesses, who wanted the look of more expensive carved stone or terra cotta.

The IHPA's drive to identify Mesker Buildings continues. Those interested in searching for these buildings in their own communities are encouraged to visit www.gotmesker.com.