Badger State Shoe Company building, historic building located at 123 North Blount Street in Madison, Wisconsin

The Badger State Shoe Company building is a six-story red brick factory erected in 1910 at the corner of North Blount and East Dayton Street. The structure displays classical architectural elements including symmetrical window rows, decorative brickwork, and slender piers that reflect Ferdinand Kronenberg's skilled design.

The Badger State Shoe Company was founded in Milwaukee in 1893 and relocated to South Madison around 1900, with a new factory later planned on Blount Street. The completed building opened in early 1911 and employed around 250 workers until shoe production ceased in 1930 due to economic hardship.

The building takes its name from the shoe company that once operated here and shaped the city's economy. Today its brick facade and classical details show how Madison sought to blend factory work with dignified urban design during its early industrial period.

The building sits at a corner intersection with good visibility from both main streets and is easy to spot due to its size and characteristic red brick form. Visitors should note it is now a restored residential building and not freely accessible inside, but can be viewed from the exterior.

The building was architect Ferdinand Kronenberg's only known factory design, though he was otherwise known for houses and public buildings. This rarity makes it an exceptional example of classical design applied to industry during this period.

• Location: Madison
• Inception: 1910
• Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture
• Address: 123 North Blount Street
• GPS coordinates: 43.08136,-89.37847
• Latest update: February 9, 2026 07:47