Who knew?

Cleveland's past as a textile center, thanks primarily to the Civil War and clothing union troops, is well known. However, just found out about the Beckman Co. which made horse blankets and in the 1890s was counted as one of the nation's largest producers of them. Later they made blankets for use in cars and the institutional market, especially hospitals. They're sold today as collectors items and lots are online.

A relic of the company exists at West 30th near St. Rocco's Church on Fulton. The block-long plant remains in place. Efforts are warming up to convert the old wool blanket factory to affordable housing, as we reported Sept. 2, 2019 in Crain's Cleveland Business. Below is how Dimit Architects and Cleveland real estate developer Levin Group imagine the place if they can pull all the pieces together. Levin is going to seek Ohio State Historic Preservation Tax Credits in the next round, due to be selected by year's end.