Built in 1901, this six-story, brick, stone, and timber building was designed by architect Mifflin E. Bell. M.E. Bell was the Supervising Architect for the U.S. Treasury Department from 1883-1886. Bell helped create landmark buildings including numerous U.S. Custom, Court House’s and Post Office’s around the United States. Bell also helped to design the Washington Monument and his name is engraved on the north face of the monument’s capstone. In 1887 Bell and his family moved to Chicago where he oversaw federal buildings at the 1893 World’s Colombian Exposition (Chicago World’s Fair). This was one of his last structure designs before he died in 1904. The J.S. Ford, Johnson & Co. used this building to warehouse their 3,000 plus variety of commercial, residential, and institutional chairs. At the turn of the century, they were one of the largest chair manufacturers in the United States.