We can now say that Meskers found their way into at least 1,000 towns in North America. How’s that for impact? The latest group of identified buildings is from California, Missouri, which breaks the 1,000th mark of confirmed communities with Mesker facades. 997 are in the United States and 3 are in Canada. The total number of identified buildings is 2,395. California boasts at least six surviving examples which include works by both companies, placing the town in slightly more selective company. Of the 1,000 communities:
- 531 have facades by Mesker Brothers Iron Works
- 308 have facades by George L. Mesker & Co.
- 161 have facades by both companies
A complete listing of towns can be found in state-by-state databases here.

California’s only George L. Mesker & Co facade, the Sprouse & Ross Building, was showcased in the 1902 and 1903 general catalogs, and in the 1905 testimonial catalog. A rendering of the front was printed above a customer quote: “The material you furnished us is beautiful and your prices were exceptionally low.” The building, standing at 501-505 North High Street, retains a fair amount of its original fabric. The largest noticeable difference is the absence of four triangular cornice pediments.
With the assistance of Alan Sparks of the Moniteau County Historical Society, I’ve confirmed seven extant Mesker facades in California. The addresses are:
- 301 N. High St.
- Finke Building, 309 N. High St.
- Sprouse & Ross Building, 501-505 North High St.
- 507 N. High St.
- Ehrhardt Building, 501 S. Oak St.
- 314-318 S. Oak St.
- Pressed-brick front on S. High St.
At least one more facade, originally purchased from George L. Mesker & Co by B.S. Cooper, remains unidentified. It was mentioned in the 1905 testimonials catalog.




