Old Town in Wichita in Sedgwick County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Coleman Company
1909
— No. 220 N. St. Francis —
1909
W.C. Coleman built a factory at 220 N. St. Francis. It served as the company headquarters for most of the twentieth century.
In 1889, Coleman found the lamp that would change his life. The "Efficient Lamp" had mantles, not wicks, and was fueled by gasoline instead of coal oil. Coleman found great initial success with his "No light, no pay" policy. His service eventually expanded as far west as San Diego and Las Vegas.
The first Quick-Lite lanterns were produced in 1916. Billed as the "Sunshine of the Night," the "Q" models became known as the great farm lantern.
Coleman Facts
• Admiral Byrd carried a Coleman lantern on his expedition to the South Pole.
• One of the first night football games in the United States was illuminated by Coleman lanterns suspended from poles along the sidelines.
• During Prohibition, moonshiners liked using the Coleman stoves because there was no telltale smoke to tip off authorities.
• On one occasion, ranchers in western Colorado thought they'd discovered a new star. The light they saw came from a Coleman lantern on top of a fire lookout tower 40 miles away.
• During World War II, "Coleman" in response to the password "lantern" identified an American GI.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.
Location. 37° 41.239′ N, 97° 19.663′ W. Marker is in Wichita, Kansas, in Sedgwick County. It is in Old Town. Marker is on Mosley near 1st Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is on the plaza immediately north of the Museum of World Treasures. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 835 East 1st Street, Wichita KS 67202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Oldtown Marketplace (here, next to this marker); Warehouse District (here, next to this marker); Riding the Rails (here, next to this marker); Simmons Hardware Company (here, next to this marker); Simmons Hardware Company / Hockaday Paint Company (here, next to this marker); Union Station and the Santa Fe (here, next to this marker); Johnson-Frazier Building / Cox Produce Company (here, next to this marker); Innes Wholesale Furniture / City Ice Delivery (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wichita.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Oldtown Wichita History. (Submitted on June 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Coleman Company - Our Story. Company webpage (Submitted on June 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 897 times since then and 96 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 6. submitted on June 17, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.