Rath Packing Company Administration Building

The Rath Packing Company Administration Building, also known as Adams Store Inc., is a historic Late Gothic Revival building in Waterloo, Iowa.

Rath Packing Company Administration Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	1515 E. Sycamore St., 208-212 Elm St., Waterloo, Iowa
Coordinates	42°29′33″N 92°19′24″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1925
Built by	John G. Miller Construction Company (original); McDonald, Tom (addition)
Architect	Bartley, John Solomon Jr.
Architectural style	Late Gothic Revival
NRHP reference No.	08001162[1]
Added to NRHP	December 10, 2008

It is a surviving remnant of what was the largest meat-packing plant in the United States in 1941. The plant started in 1891 with hogs, and was "massive". The company was the 5th biggest at the end of World War II, in 1945. In 1966 it was the ninth largest, and it was also the 249th biggest industrial company of any kind in the United States. It closed in 1985.[2]

Preservation of the larger complex as a historic district was sought, but was not obtained, as the specialized industrial buildings rapidly deteriorated.[2]

The administration building, completed in 1925, is unlike all other buildings in the plant, in that it was designed by a local architect, who was John S. Hartley (1891/92-1985). It was built by the John G. Miller Construction Company, which had submitted the low bid, $78,496, for the project. An extension was later added by contractor Tom McDonald.[2]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.[1]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. James E. Jacobsen (October 15, 2008). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Rath Packing Company Administration Building / Adams Store, Incorporated". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-06-25. with nine photos