Barber-Colman Factory Facade – Rockford, Illinois

The Barber-Colman Company built this factory complex in Rockford, Illinois, after founders W.A. Barber and Howard Colman established the firm in 1894. The company grew into one of Rockford's largest employers, manufacturing textile machinery, door operators, and later HVAC controls and aerospace components. Production at the Rockford site wound down through the late 20th century as the company was sold off in pieces, and the buildings were left vacant. The complex's multi-story brick structure, with its grid of steel-sash windows, is typical of early 20th-century American factory construction designed to maximize natural light on the manufacturing floor.

Photo taken in February 2024.