R. S. BACON VENEER COMPANY

R. S. BACON VENEER COMPANY. The R.S. Bacon Veneer Co. was founded by Robert S. Bacon in 1898 in Chicago, Illinois. The companyt continued to grow with direct connections in Europe and Russia until the outbreak of WORLD WAR I. Robert Bacon then sold the company in 1921 to Robert Scott who held it until his death in 1928. Upon his death Scott’s family sold Bacon Veneer to Joseph F. Mertes. The 1930s saw Bacon Veneer grow considerably.

In 1937 George Wilhelm joined Bacon Veneer, his leadership and innovation brought Bacon Veneer to the forefront of the Veneer business. Wilhelm invented grooved decorative hardwood plywood paneling, called Panawall, and grew rapidly in the plywood business. By 1957 Bacon produced 15,000 square feet of paneling per day and employed 125 people.

After being Vice President for many years, George Wilhelm and four partners bought Bacon Veneer on March 1, 1963. In 1965 operations for Bacon Veneer were moved to Dubuque, Iowa on Jackson Street. The Panawall division was sold, as was the Augusta warehouse location and the headquarters was moved to Hillside, Illinois just outside Chicago. In 1981 a warehouse was bought in Grundy Center, Iowa and in 1984 all production was moved to that location. Sales offices remained outside Chicago in Hillside, IL as well as in Calgary, Alberta.

The 1972 Dubuque City Directory listed the end of Jackson Street at the address.