Orr, J. K., Shoe Company
Also known as: Red Seal Shoe Factory
Why it's listed
Built in 1907-1908, this four-story brick factory with a five-story corner tower in Atlanta once produced shoes for men, women and children. Its heavy timber post-and-beam interior, large multi-sash windows, sliding metal fire doors and wood floors reflect the functional design of early 20th-century industrial buildings. Architect A. Francis Walker, a former mill architect from Framingham, Massachusetts, designed it, and W. Bensel Construction Company built it. The factory was owned by Joseph Kyle Orr, Sr., who employed 200 to 400 workers and sold shoes across the Southeast, with exports to Cuba and South America. Orr served as president of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and was known as the "First Citizen of Atlanta." The building is the only one left in the city tied to him. General Shoe Company bought the business in 1937. After later uses as a decorating company and artists' studios, the building was rehabilitated and now provides supportive housing. The rehabilitation received a city preservation award in 1994.
Significance in brief: The building is a good example of an early 20th-century utilitarian factory, designed by architect A. Francis Walker and built by W. Bensel Construction Company. It represents Atlanta's early industrial activity as a shoe factory run by J. K. Orr, Sr., a civic leader called the "First Citizen of Atlanta." It is the only remaining building in Atlanta associated with Orr.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 95001135, listed September 29, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 16 William Holmes Borders, Sr. Ave., Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | September 29, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001135 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1907 - 1937 |
| Architect / builder | A. Francis Walker, Architect; W. Bensel Construction Co., Builder |
| Architectural style | Other: Utilitarian |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated using federal investment tax credits and now used as housing for the mentally ill, operated by a private nonprofit as "People's Place." |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 33.75398, -84.37469 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 95001135.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134346480
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.