Old Vs. New

Image by chicagogeek
Part of the residential rehab – new windows

In 1864 Charles Valentine Carpenter established an iron foundry and blacksmith shop called the Illinois Iron & Bolt Company. The company later acquired the Star Manufacturing Company, which produced agricultural machinery. During the 1870s and 1880s German, Swedish, and Polish immigrants came to work in the factories. He persuaded the Chicago & North Western Railroad to extend its tracks from East Dundee to the area and built an iron bridge with his own funds to accommodate the rail line. By 1912 Carpenter’s two companies employed 2,000 people. Star Manufacturing remained in Carpentersville until 1977. Today Otto Engineering Co. uses part of the factory, while the rest is being converted for residential use.