Friday, October 1, 2010

It's a Mesker Thing...You Wouldn't Understand

Evansville, Indiana, is a city more than a bit "Mesker-ized." There is a Mesker Zoo, Mesker Park, Mesker Music Trust Fund and a Mesker Amphitheater.

Just who were these Meskers to get their name all over the place.

Actually, if you live in any midwestern town dating back to the turn of the last century, there is a chance you too are "Meskerized."

From the February 26, 2008, Evansville Courier-Express.

From 1885 to the 1920s, the George L. Mesker & Co. of Evansville manufactured thousands of ornamental and cast iron and sheet metal components to buildings on America's main streets all across the country, but especially in the Midwest.

This was a great way for small store owners to spiff up the front of their businesses cheaply and that is just what they did.

Some still exist and there is a movement to catalog all remaining ones.

In Newburgh, Indiana, there is one at 7 State Street and there are two more at 425 and 514 Main Street in Evansville.

In 1915 Indiana had 4,130, Illinois 2,915, Kentucky 2,646 and even the territory of Alaska had 7.

Got Mesker? --DaCoot

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