The loyal reader will recognize the pattern—when we document 100 Meskers in a state, we celebrate it here by summarizing some historic data and analyzing the identified group. The latest to join this elite category is West Virginia, which is now comprised of 22 states. Historically, West Virginia was in the middle of the pack …
Georgia's 100th building with Mesker building components was identified some weeks ago. Hence, this customary celebration of "states with at least 100 Meskers"—which now number 21—is overdue. Below is a brief summary of Meskers' historic output in the state and a look at the 100 buildings found to date. Historically, Mesker companies sold a considerable …
Historic photograph collections have always been instrumental to the Mesker documentation project. The latest such archive that I’ve stumbled upon is the Burgert Brothers Photographic Collection, comprised of over 20,000 images chronicling the history of the Tampa Bay area from the 1890s to the 1960s. The photographs are the work of brothers Jean and Al …
Over recent weeks there has been a steady influx of newly discovered and documented buildings with Mesker components in Pennsylvania, such that it has been impossible to post this customary celebration in the category of "states with at least 100 Meskers." At least until the new discoveries have been cataloged. Things seem to have leveled …
Continue reading Pennsylvania now with over 100 known Meskers
Tennessee is the latest state where we've identified at least 100 buildings with Mesker building products. Below is a brief summary of Meskers' historic output in the state and a look at the 100 buildings found to date. Historically, Mesker companies sold a significant number of building facades and related products in Tennessee, the state …
When we document at least 100 buildings with Mesker building products in a state, we celebrate it here. It's a chance to provide some historic statistics and to acknowledge good Mesker examples that might otherwise go unrecognized. The latest to join the 100+ club (now 18 states in total) is South Carolina with 101 Meskers. …
A simple and diminutive floral motif by Mesker Brothers Iron Works—referred to only as “ornament no. 800” in Ben's Bible—is less decorative than most of its brethren, but proved to be more versatile. Majority of Mesker motifs, and classically inspired motifs in general, are either bilaterally symmetrical (mirrored on a central axis) or radially symmetrical …
Mesker #2,000 came in December, 2011, #3,000 in June, 2013, and #4,000 in June, 2015. Three years later and fourteen years since the launch of the 'got mesker?' initiative through the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (now the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office in the Department of Natural Resources), the 5,000th building with Mesker-manufactured components has …
The 100-Mesker club has a new member—Ohio. Perhaps not so new, as the 100 mark was reached some time ago, but additional Ohio discoveries just kept coming, preventing this write up from appearing sooner. Historically, Ohioans purchased a not insignificant amount of Mesker products, ranking 13th nationwide with a combined estimate of approximately 1,230 facades. …
Continue reading The Heart of It All (or at least 129 Meskers)
At least 2,000 communities in North America have or had Mesker facades. How's that for impact? It took nearly six years to discover and document the last 1,000 communities, but the latest with at least one confirmed (extant or extinct) Mesker is Tuscumbia, AL. The brick front at 116 S. Main St, featuring cast iron …
Continue reading 2,000th town with Meskers—Tuscumbia, Alabama
Mesker Brothers 