Auburn Button Works and Logan Silk Mills, historic factory in Auburn, New York, USA
Auburn Button Works and Logan Silk Mills are late 1800s factory buildings in Auburn, New York, constructed in Italianate architectural style. The structures are made of brick with tall, narrow windows and arranged in a rectangular layout with wings to accommodate large open production spaces with high ceilings.
The main factory was built in 1879 and produced buttons and silk, with Logan Silk Mills supplying fabric for prominent garments, including a gown worn by First Lady Caroline Harrison in 1889. After the silk mill closed, the Wegman Piano Company took over the space, followed by Auburn Button Works and later manufacturers of automobile parts and shoes.
The buildings connect Auburn residents to their industrial heritage and the memory of workers who shaped the city's identity through manufacturing. Today they stand as a physical reminder of a time when local factories were central to community life.
The buildings are located near downtown Auburn and within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and theaters. Visitors can admire the exterior architecture and explore interior spaces where restored original features such as exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and the Piano Lobby with a restored 1880s Wegman Piano are visible.
A notable detail is that silk from this factory was used in First Lady Caroline Harrison's gown at her husband's presidential inauguration in 1889. This subtle connection to American history shows how these local mills held significance at the national level.
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