Meinig Glove Factory-Meinig, E. Richard, Co.
Also known as: Ellmar Mills
Why it's listed
Brick factory buildings on McKnight Street in Reading, Pennsylvania, built in stages between 1905 and 1958, form the former plant of the E. Richard Meinig Company. Ernst Richard Meinig, a German-born glove maker, established the firm in 1906 as a subsidiary of the Nolde and Horst hosiery company, and by 1906 it occupied the west-side buildings A and B. The complex is regarded as a surviving example of the local glove industry, which began as a cottage trade and became mechanized. Its factory and dyehouse spaces, slow-burning mill construction with heavy timber posts and beams, and fire towers reflect that development. The company was the only specialist glove firm in Reading from 1911 until after World War II. During the Depression it made the Shalimar label goods, and in the war it produced insulated gloves and mittens for the military. Buildings C through F on the east side date from the post-World War I expansion, when hosiery production was added.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the factory complex, with its intact millscape, illustrates Reading's glove and hosiery industry and the German immigrant contribution to it. It is described as the city's only specialist glove firm from 1911 to after World War II. Its buildings, including dyehouses and engine houses, are presented as surviving evidence of two generations of factory construction.
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 85001896, listed August 30, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 621--641 McKnight St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | August 30, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001896 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1906-1935 |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Both properties presently function as light industrial spaces, with offices and knit sportswear and embroidery craft-kit assembly. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Within district | Queen Anne Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.34556, -75.93674 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 85001896.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6810183
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.