Reading Knitting Mills
Why it's listed
Built in 1891 by architect L. H. Focht and contractor George W. Beard, this four-story brick mill in Reading, Pennsylvania, was the permanent home of the Reading Knitting Mills, founded in 1883. The Italianate-influenced building has arched nine-over-nine windows, corbelled brick cornices, and 14 wooden roof trusses, some with single timbers about 35 feet long. A one-story addition followed in 1898, and a fourth floor was added around 1920. By 1891 the firm employed 300 workers, mostly young women, and produced up to 800 dozen pairs of seamless stockings daily. Later the company specialized in 84-needle hosiery and became the nation's largest producer of it. The mill is significant as the setting of Reading's leading hosiery firm, the pioneer of the city's hosiery industry, and a clear record of how a local industry rose and declined. Its original interior floors, stairwell, and open floor spaces survive on the upper stories.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill housed the leading hosiery manufacturer in Reading, a firm founded in 1883 that grew rapidly and became a national leader in 84-needle hosiery. It is presented as the pioneer of Reading's hosiery industry and as an example of the typical rise and decline of an industry.
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 82003762, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 350 Elm St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003762 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | L. H. Focht (architect); George W. Beard (builder) |
| Architectural style | Italianate-influenced |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Factory operations continued into 1930, the building stood vacant during the depression, was used as a warehouse from 1941, and was later adapted for use by Fleetwood Industries, Inc. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.33974, -75.92998 (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 82003762.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7300522
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.