Swedish American Telephone Company Building
Also known as: Denoyer-Geppert Co.
Why it's listed
Three connected factory buildings on North Ravenswood Avenue in Chicago make up this industrial complex. The two-story north section dates from about 1895, the three-story south section from about 1900, and a 1901 addition joined them. All are timber-framed with common brick bearing walls trimmed in Joliet stone or Bedford limestone. Pilasters, saw-tooth brick panels and brick lunettes give the facades more careful composition than most industrial buildings of the period. The architect of the north building is unknown; Irving W. Kelley designed the addition and probably the south building. The complex first housed Frank S. Betz's medical supply firm, then the Swedish American Telephone Company, and later the Denoyer-Geppert Company, maker of school maps and anatomical models. As the first large factory in the neighborhood, it employed local workers, mostly German and then Swedish, and helped form the economic base of Andersonville. Its few owners kept it largely intact, and most alterations are reversible.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is a well-preserved example of a 1890s heavy timber mill building, with more careful brick facade composition than typical industrial buildings. It also housed three successful industries: Betz medical supplies, Swedish American Telephone Company and Denoyer-Geppert maps and models. It was the first large industrial building in the neighborhood and provided jobs and an economic base for the Swedish community of Andersonville.
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 85002286, listed September 13, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5235--5257 N. Ravenswood, Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | September 13, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002286 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895-1900 (original construction); 1901 (addition) |
| Architect / builder | Original architect unknown; addition by Irving W. Kelley (south building probably also by Kelley); addition built by Frank S. Betz & Co. |
| Architectural style | Heavy timber mill construction (industrial) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, European, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied and private; condition good and altered, with relatively few reversible alterations. Denoyer-Geppert ceased operation after its 1984 absorption by Rand-McNally. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.97749, -87.67429 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 85002286.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20710466
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.