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& MANUFACTURING Stephenson Co IL
North Ridge Brush Company
Construction of Large Modern Fire-Proof Plant Next Year Decided ON Buckley Site on Exchange Street To Be Disposed Of New Location, With Better-Shipping Facilities, to Be Purchased; Several Available "From $150,000 to $200,000 will be expended by the North Ridge Brush company in building and equipping a fire-proof manufacturing and office building, to be erected in Freeport next year." In making the foregoing announcement this morning, J. H. Nortridge, founder, owner and manager of the company, said that the site in Exchange street, known as the Buckley place, acquired two years ago, is not large enough to accommodate a structure of the size required by this rapidly growing industry. "Our company, which has a force of 600 representatives in the United States and Canada," he said, "will need more factory room and office space to handle the business. I have decided to sell the Buckley site and shall purchase a much larger tract of land somewhere on the railroad, so as to have trackage that will eliminate heavy drayage expense. Our new plant will be complete in every detail and embody the latest approved equipment to facilitate manufacturing, assemblage and shipping. The office will be modern in every respect. When we moved the two factories to the Tuckett building, owned by Dr. Stealy, at Chicago street and Clark avenue, less than a year ago," Mr. Nortridge said, "it was thought that these quarters would serve our purpose for a time, but from the beginning the business increased so rapidly that we have been cramped for room for months." In answer to a question, Mr. Nortridge said that tentative arrangements were made two years ago to erect a building on the Exchange street property, but in sizing up the situation it was found that a site containing several times the footage of this building would be necessary. The uncertainty of business conditions created by the war was sufficient reason to delay the building of a factory on the Buckley site. It will be recalled that Mr. Nortridge was ready to go ahead with the building. In fact, the old stone house, a land-mark for more than 65 years, was razed and excavations were made for a manufacturing plant. Mr. Nortridge is glad now that he did not build. Mr. Nortridge has in view several desirable sites in other parts of Freeport, "and it is likely," he said, "that negotiations for the purchase of one of them will be closed within the next 90 days." The North Ridge Brush company, which is less than six years old, is making remarkable progress. The first brush was manufactured in Freeport on March 1, 1914, in the Held building opposite the post office. The brush was presented to former Mayor Harry H. Stahl, then acting mayor. The beginning of the world war, soon afterward, made it difficult to secure brush-making materials, but in spite of these handicaps the company has been climbing, growing larger year by year. The company's selling force is constantly increasing. The company now maintains a training school in Chicago, in one of the finest office buildings in the loop - suite 1122 Republic building. This school is for the training salesmen as office managers and executives. Mr. Nortridge announces that distributing stations are to be placed in five central points of the United States so that one-day service can be given to salesmen anywhere in the United States and Canada. The distributing depot already established in Spokane, to serve Washington, Oregon and Idaho, is doing a thriving business and is showing increases month to month. Branch offices have been established in 15 of the larger cities and it is officially announced, that a branch office will be established in every large city in the United States and Canada. Mr. Nortridge has been searching the country for the most efficient help available, believing that the right quality of brains will build any kind of business. A number of capable men have been added to the North Ridge organization. "These men," Mr. Nortridge said, " are putting heart and soul into the work and are going at things with the regular North Ridge spirit." Mr. Nortridge is looking forward to the day when the North Ridge Brush company will be one of the big industries in Freeport. Contributed by Karen Fyock - November 29, 1919 clipping
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