Industrial Complex at 221 McKibbin Street
Also known as: H. Lawrence & Sons Rope Works; Manhattan Leather Works; Laitman & Laitman Luggage Co.; Columbia Products
Why it's listed
Occupying a block in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, this industrial complex grew around a three-story brick spinning house built probably in the 1840s for H. Lawrence & Sons Rope Works. The spinning house was extended westward before 1870 and has red brick walls, a corbelled cornice, bluestone lintels and sills, and cast-iron shutter knuckles. Later owners added one-story mid-block factory buildings between about 1898 and 1933, including work by the Manhattan Leather Company and the Laitman family, plus a two-story Columbia Products building of about 1932 and a garage-warehouse on Boerum Street. Together the ten connected structures document more than a century of manufacturing at one location. The complex was listed for its industrial significance, with a period running from about 1845 to about 1951. The early spinning house shows how yarn spinning moved from long ropewalks into mechanized buildings. A 2007-2008 rehabilitation reopened first-story windows and converted the interiors into light manufacturing workshops.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is significant under Criterion A for its role in industry, tracing a long run of manufacturing use from the H. Lawrence & Sons Rope Works through leather, luggage and Columbia Products operations. The early spinning house reflects mid-19th-century mechanized yarn spinning in the rope industry. The complex shows how the site changed as rope making moved into multi-story factories.
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 09000303, listed May 12, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 221 McKibbin St., Brooklyn |
|---|---|
| County | Brooklyn |
| Listed | May 12, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000303 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1845 - ca. 1951 |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated in 2007-2008 by a non-profit for use as a center for light industry; interiors are now subdivided into light manufacturing workshops. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.70786, -73.93775 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 09000303.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6027535
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.