Consumers Cigar Box Company
Also known as: Red Lion Woodcraft Inc.
Why it's listed
Built in phases from 1921 to 1936 on N. Charles Street and First Avenue in Red Lion, this two-story L-shaped factory of concrete block and brick was built for the Consumers Cigar Box Company, organized in 1921 by local cigar and furniture businessmen. The plant opened in March 1922 with a capacity of 7,500 boxes per day, which doubled after a 1925 addition. By 1928 it employed 104 workers, and by 1935 it employed 125 in making cigar boxes and distributing box lumber. Red Lion had once had as many as 150 cigar factories, and the company's output supported the town's cigar trade until it declined in the late 1930s. The company was renamed Red Lion Woodcraft, Inc. by 1948 and turned to furniture and other products. The building is regarded as a fine example of tobacco industry architecture in the region, with its original stepped parapets, pilasters, and tripled nine-over-nine windows. It has been vacant since 1979.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the factory is significant for its association with cigar box manufacturing, a key part of Red Lion's tobacco industry, and as a locally significant example of early-to-mid 20th century tobacco industry architecture. It was the largest cigar box manufacturer in the borough for over two decades and the only one owned by a group of local businessmen.
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 99001196, listed September 24, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 121 First Ave., Red Lion |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Listed | September 24, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001196 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921 - 1949 |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building is vacant; all machinery has been removed and no significant manufacturing has taken place since 1979. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Red Lion Borough Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.89665, -76.60544 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 99001196.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5164739
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.