Early uses

The building was designed by the architectural firm of Furst & Rudolph and was built in 1891 by Biemolt & Carter at a cost of between $40,000 and $50,000.^[1][3][4][5] The building was originally the Braun & Fitts Butterine Factory.^[1][3][4] In 1897, a law was enacted in Illinois prohibiting the coloring of butterine.^[6][7] In response, Braun & Fitts and Chicago's other butterine manufacturers threatened move their operations out of the state.^[6][7] However, Chicago's butterine producers decided to continue manufacturing and coloring butterine until arrests would be made, so the constitutionality of the law could be tested.^[8][9] The company's name was changed to John F. Jelke Company in 1906.^[10]

In 1912, the Dairy Farm Products Company purchased the building from the John F. Jelke Company.^[11] The Dairy Farm Products Company opened its plant in the building on October 17, 1912, manufacturing butter.^[12] In 1916, the building was sold to William Wrigley Jr. for approximately $125,000.^[13][14] The building would house the factory and offices of the Downey-Farrell Company, a margarine manufacturer that Wrigley was affiliated with.^[14][15][16] An addition was built in 1917, designed by Postle & Fischer, at a cost of $40,000.^[1][17] In 1923, the building was purchased by the Duz Company, a manufacturer of soap powder, for $384,000.^[18] Wrigley re-purchased the building in 1929.^[19]

Salvation Army ownership

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William Wrigley Jr. gave the Salvation Army use of the building on October 11, 1930 to use as a lodging house for the unemployed.^[20][21] It was named the New Start Lodge and was formally opened at 3:30 pm on October 23, 1930.^[22][21][23] It contained 2,020 beds, and facilities to feed a similar number.^[24] Wrigley donated the property to them outright the following year, and it was re-named Wrigley Lodge.^[21][25] Following World War II, it served as a rehabilitation center for veterans.^[26][27]

In 1946, the Salvation Army began raising funds for the remodeling of Wrigley Lodge and the construction of new buildings.^[26][27] It was remodeled in the Streamline Moderne style, designed by Albert C. Fehlow, at a cost of $400,000, and was re-dedicated at 2 pm on January 18, 1951.^{[28][1][29][30]} A new one-story warehouse was also built behind the north half of the building.^[29] The building replaced the Central Social Service center, which was demolished to make way for the construction of the Congress Expressway, and served as a rehabilitation center for homeless and disabled men, with housing accommodations for 150 men.^[29][30] The thrift store, located in the building, funded the center's operations and employed some of the men residing in the building.^[29]

In the following years, the building has served the Salvation Army in similar roles, and continues to house a thrift store as part of a multi-building complex owned by the Salvation Army.^{[1][31][32][33]} The building's rooftop water tower was restored in 2017.^[34] The Salvation Army announced their intention to sell the complex in August 2019.^[33] In February 2021, Preservation Chicago listed Wrigley Lodge as one of Chicago's most endangered buildings.^[35][36] The Salvation Army closed the adult rehabilitation center and thrift store in March 2022.^[2]