St. James Farm in Warrenville in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
William Deering and Company Factory Doorway
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 14, 2025
1. William Deering and Company Factory Doorway Marker
This doorway was a part of the William Deering and Company factory built in 1880 in Chicago between Fullerton and Diversey avenues on the west side of the river. The property was finally disposed of in 1946.
The stone wording in this wall was a part of the second McCormick factory built following the Chicago Fire of 1871 at Blue Island and Western Avenues. This property was finally disposed of in 1962.
B. McC. 1964
Erected 1964 by Brooks McCormick.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location. 41° 50.022′ N, 88° 9.674′ W. Marker is in Warrenville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is in St. James Farm. It can be reached from Winfield Road (County Route 13) near Butterfield Road (Illinois Route 56). The marker is in St. James Forest Preserve, affixed to the right of the doorway it references. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2S541 Winfield
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Milwaukee Works War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); A Love for Horses (a few steps from this marker); Chamossaire Statue (within shouting distance of this marker); Dairy Operations (within shouting distance of this marker); George Washington Elm (approx. 0.7 miles away); It Kame From the North (approx. 0.8 miles away); Recipe for a River (approx. one mile away); A Dam Struggle (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Warrenville.
More about this marker. It is presumed that the "B McC" at the bottom of the plaque is Brooks McCormick, the owner of this land until 2000.
Regarding William Deering and Company Factory Doorway. Brooks
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 14, 2025
2. William Deering and Company Factory Doorway Marker
This historical marker is just right of the archway. Letters on either side say "REAPER MANUFACTURING." On the far left is a memorial to World Wars I and II that originally was erected at the Milwaukee Works of International Harvester.
Also see . . .
1. Encyclopedia of Chicago: International Harvester Co. Since this webpage was created in the mid-aughts, Navistar moved from its Warrenville headquarters to Lisle, a suburb a few miles east.
Excerpt: "By the early 1980s, the company was losing huge amounts of money, and it chose to sell its farm equipment business (as well as the International Harvester name) to Tenneco Inc., a competitor. By 1986, most of what had been International Harvester became Navistar International Corp. By the end of the 1990s, Navistar, headquartered in suburban Warrenville, had become the nation's leading manufacturer of large trucks. It employed about 2,500 people in the Chicago area, one-tenth of the number who once worked in and around the city for International Harvester."(Submitted on November 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Chicagology: William Deering Plant.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 14, 2025
3. Deering Factory Doorway
The words "William Deering & Co." are affixed on the arch, which originally stood on Chicago's north side.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 14, 2025
4. Deering Factory sign
Chicago Daily News collection, Chicago History Museum, circa 1910
5. Deering factory
A view of the Deering factory at 1734 W. Fullerton on Chicago's north side.
Photographed by Charles Clark; courtesy of Chicago History Museum (ICHi-070178), circa 1906
6. McCormick Reaper Works factory
A photo of the factory referenced on this marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 57 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
