DeKalb Wagon Company Records

Collection

Identifier: RHC-RC-254

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The records for the DeKalb Wagon Company consist of articles of incorporation and amendments, catalogs, brochures, and a scrapbook. The scrapbook contains catalogs, correspondence, brochures, advertisements, and price lists for the company along with the businesses predecessors and successors. A majority of the catalogs and brochures are not dated. Corporate records such as constitutions, meeting minutes and annual reports for the company are not included in the collection.

Dates

created: 1902-1957
Other: Date acquired: 04/29/2002

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Biographical or Historical Information

According to an advertisement found in the collection’s scrapbook, the Sycamore Wagon Works was the successor to Shipman, Bradt & Co. The Sycamore Wagon Works was established on January 20, 1904 to “to manufacture vehicles and other articles similar thereto.” William Smith, Harrison F. Gleason, and George W. Dunton formed the company with capital stock of $60,000. Frank C. Patten and Harrison F. Gleason each bought 200 stocks and Will Smith and S.E. Bradt each bought 100 stocks. Will Smith, M.D. Shipman, H.F. Gleason, Thos. L. Halloran and Frank C. Patten were elected Board of Directors. The name changed to DeKalb Wagon Company on April 30, 1912 and moved to 229 W. Garden Street in DeKalb, Illinois. On February 26, 1941 the name changed to the DeKalb Commercial Body Corporation. The Company was listed in the 1969 DeKalb City Directory but the property was listed as a vacant lot in the 1971 Directory.

Note written by