Middishade Clothing Factory
Also known as: C.C. Knight Factory
Why it's listed
Built in 1908 at the southwest corner of Sixteenth and Callowhill streets in Philadelphia, the six-story reinforced concrete factory was designed by Watson and Huckel. Its two public facades are sheathed in brick and terra cotta with corner pavilions and renaissance-style detailing, while the side and rear walls expose the concrete frame. Inside, the poured concrete columns, beams and slabs remain visible, along with fire towers, freight elevator access and a double-height first floor. The building was constructed for the Middishade clothing firm, founded in 1899, which by 1929 employed 700 workers and was the largest ready-to-wear clothier in the city. The company specialized in blue serge suits, a popular garment of the 1920s office workforce, and marketed them nationally through advertising. The nomination presents the building as a well-preserved example of the factories that once surrounded downtown Philadelphia, reflecting the scale of the city's apparel industry.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is one of the last survivors of Philadelphia's apparel industry, which was the city's largest employer for much of the twentieth century. It also cites the firm's role as a major producer of blue serge suits and a pioneer in national advertising, and it describes the building as a well-preserved early twentieth-century factory with a high degree of interior and exterior integrity.
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 86003579, listed January 6, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1600 Callowhill St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | January 6, 1987 |
| Reference number | 86003579 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Watson and Huckel |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Two exterior alterations are noted: the original pressed metal cornice was removed, and an imitation granite entrance was added at the southeast corner. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.86127, -75.16517 (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.
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 86003579.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6841173
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.