The Leach/Kramer/France Building, Paxton Illinois

 The Leach/Kramer/France Building, Paxton Illinois


The Leach Roaster and Baker Company built their factory on North Railroad Avenue in Paxton in 1889. The company had previously been in Roberts, IL. It would become an international company shipping their roasters all over the world.



In 1895 the corporation changed it's name to The Paxton Hardware Manufacturing Company, expanded the building and recapitalized.  It would expand it's products as time went on.


Paxton Hardware employees in 1903



The Kramer Mfg. Company was in business in Paxton From 1907 - 1915. They moved from Cissna Park to the factory on Railroad Avenue in 1907. The demise of the company may have come from a lawsuit between the officers of the company.




It had a number of other companies in the factory after Kramer Mfg. shut down. A couple furniture/cabinet businesses as well as a raincoat factory.  And finally the France Broom Company in 1938.

AI enhanced picture of Paxton from 1955

It burned for the second time in 1960.  It had burned previously in 1941 and been repaired. This time it was a complete loss. 


A new building was built on that site and operated as a broom company until fairly recently.  It is now a retail outlet.


Thank you to Dennis Swan and Matt Rubarts for some of the pictures.



Location: Paxton, IL 60957, USA

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