Larkin Administration Building - History

History

The Larkin Soap Company was founded in Buffalo in 1875. Among the principals were John D. Larkin, Elbert Hubbard, and Darwin D. Martin. By the early years of the twentieth century, the company expanded beyond soap manufacturing into groceries, dry goods, china, and furniture. Larkin became a pioneering, national mail-order house with branch stores in Buffalo, New York City and Chicago. At the time it commissioned its headquarters, Larkin was prosperous and the high price for a well-designed, innovative building was not a barrier. Due to their growth, the company decided to expand its complex in Buffalo, New York in 1902. The company, known for its generous corporate culture, also commissioned Wright to design row houses for its workers, which were never built.

First floor plan was of lobby and mail grouping, second floor consisted of typewriter operators' department, third floor in mail departmeant and the fourth floor was of the mail room.

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