Globe Knitting Mills
Also known as: Rambo & Regar Globe Knitting Mills
Why it's listed
Built in 1898 on Main Street in Norristown, the red brick Main Building is a three-story industrial Italianate mill with a long rectangular plan, a pedimented front bearing the names Rambo & Regar and Globe Knitting Mills, and skylights that lit the upper knitting floor. Its architects were Hales & Ballinger, a firm later known for many commercial and industrial buildings in the region. The mill was built by Rambo & Regar to produce seamless hosiery, a product of the rotary knitting frame that was central to Philadelphia's textile trade. The company, founded by Joseph S. Rambo and Howard K. Regar, had moved its operations from a smaller mill at Walnut and Moore Streets. A 1905 addition extended the main building by three bays. The mill closed in August 1958. Its listing rests on the building's architecture and on its link to the regional hosiery industry.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill is an intact, representative turn-of-the-century textile mill tied to the hosiery industry of southeastern Pennsylvania, and an early commission of the architectural firm Hales & Ballinger. It also presents the Main Building's Italianate industrial design and surviving features as significant architecture.
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 02001745, listed January 31, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 660 and 694 E. Main St., Norristown |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | January 31, 2003 |
| Reference number | 02001745 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Hales & Ballinger (architects); Rambo & Regar, Inc. (client) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian / Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | A recent rehabilitation restored the formerly abandoned Main Building, which now houses office space; the Oxidizing Building/Dye House is under separate ownership and has been refaced in part. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.11129, -75.33123 (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 02001745.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5570992
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.