Eagle Knitting Mills
 Main factory building, 2022 | |
| Defunct | 1991 |
|---|---|
| Fate | closed |
| Successor | Zwicker Knitting Mills |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Eagle Knitting Mills was a knitted textiles company located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, widely known in the early 20th century as the manufacturer of the original patented earlap cap.[1]
In 1930, Eagle bought Stern Knitting Mills of Peoria, Illinois, and moved the entire production to Milwaukee.[2] During the Great Depression, Eagle was one of many companies in Wisconsin that proclaimed it would guarantee their employees' jobs, ensuring some stability for the workers.[3] In 1937, the company president, David Karger, was reported as receiving an annual salary of $24,000 (equivalent to $508,667 in 2023).[4]
In 1952 Eagle was awarded a Federal contract worth more than $250,000 to produce wool mufflers.[5]
The company was sold in 1963 to Zwicker Knitting Mills in 1963. The plant in Milwaukee was finally closed in 1991.[6]
The main factory building was added to the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places on August 14, 2020,[6] and to the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 2020.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Eagleknit Cap Advertising Campaign This Fall". Dayton Daily News. November 10, 1924. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Badger Briefs". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Associated Press. December 6, 1930. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Executives Guarantee Jobs To Workers; Kohler Is Among Company Officials". Wausau Daily Herald. Associated Press. January 7, 1931. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Industries Account for Most of Large Salaries". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Associated Press. January 15, 1937. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Federal Contract To Manitowoc Firm". Green Bay Press-Gazette. June 9, 1952. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Wisconsin Historical Society (August 28, 2020). "Eagle Knitting Mills Listed in the State Register of Historic Places" (Press release). Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "Weekly listing". National Park Service.
