{"nrhp_refnum":"01001523","name":"Black, H., and Company Building","other_names":["H.R. Black Garment Factory","Wooltex","Tower Press"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"1900-2000 or 2010 Superior Ave.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Cleveland","county":"Cuyahoga County","state":"OH","lat":41.50659024000004,"lon":-81.67888556299994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2002-01-24","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Industry"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A Mission Style garment factory at 1900-2010 Superior Avenue on Cleveland's east side, built in 1907 to designs by New York architect Robert D. Kohn and constructed by Samuel Austin & Son Company.","why_significant":"It is described as the first reinforced concrete structure in Cleveland and a superior example of Arts and Crafts and Mission Style design in a factory. Its design aimed at a comfortable working environment in the Progressive Era spirit. It is also significant for its role in Cleveland's garment industry and related labor issues.","narrative":"Built in 1907 on Superior Avenue on Cleveland's east side, this brick and reinforced concrete factory was designed by New York architect Robert D. Kohn for H. Black & Company, makers of women's suits and cloaks sold under the Wooltex name. Samuel Austin & Son Company built it. The building is described as the first reinforced concrete structure in Cleveland. Its U-shaped plan, hip roof of French ceramic tile, sawtooth skylights, colored decorative tile and ornamented water tower give it a Mission Style character. Interior features such as open floors, staircases near exits, sprinklers, lunchrooms and stenciled columns reflected Progressive Era efforts to improve factory working conditions. The garment firm closed in 1922, and later occupants included the Evangelical Church's publishing house and Tower Press, followed by assorted tenants. It has been vacant since 1987 and shows serious deterioration, though its sturdy construction has helped it survive. It was also designated a Cleveland Landmark in 1976.","period_of_significance":"1906-1922","architect_builder":"Robert D. Kohn - Architect; Samuel Austin & Son Company - Builder","architectural_style":"Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements: Arts and Crafts Movement; Mission Style","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Condition is poor, with water damage from broken roof tiles and neglect; the building has been vacant since 1987 and plans were being developed to rehabilitate it.","vacant_flag":true,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:52:06.861515-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/01001523.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/01001523/b5815a2f38-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/01001523/b5815a2f38-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"LeeG7144","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:H_Black_and_Co_Building.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">LeeG7144</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:H_Black_and_Co_Building.jpg"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"07000072","name":"Superior Avenue Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/ohio/superior-avenue-historic-district-07000072/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71987693","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._Black_and_Company_Building","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30624318"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/cuyahoga-county/black-h-and-company-building-01001523/"}