Mission of The Factory won't change

Community-minded mission will remain despite recent sale

By SHAWNNA ROBINSON
Daily Journal Staff Writer

For more than 70 years, the building complex situated at the corner of First and “A” Streets in Farmington manufactured clothing. At that time the complex was the Rice-Stix Factory. It would open in 1932 and stayed a manufacturing business through the 1990’s, when it was called Biltwell.

 In 2002, the building began a new history when it was donated to the Friends of the Family organization. It also received a new name fitting to its original purpose — The Factory.

And now, the work is under way to bring together visitors to the community with what will be a visitor’s center, cultural/business center and the tradition of making this building a perfect fit for many more years to come.

The new owner of the complex is Larry Daniels. He was in the nursing home business for 25 years. His first and foremost regard during that time, he explains, was for the residents of those homes.

After he retired, he purchased a farm just outside the Farmington city limits.

“Retirement was just the thing (I needed),” recalled Daniels. “I took two years doing exactly what I wanted, but then I needed a challenge.”

It was then he set out to find that new opportunity and contacted a local real estate agent about local business opportunities that were for sale. When he learned about The Factory, his passion for history began to write the next chapter in his life.

For Daniels, this history plus the “rest of the story,” as he referred to it, made this an opportunity he could not pass up.

“I loved the story of the factory and how it came to be,” said Daniels. He recalled how it was the community of Farmington that stepped forward in the 1930’s to build the three-story brick building.

“It was right in the middle of the depression and the citizens of Farmington got together and bought subscriptions to help build this facility,” said Daniels.

Now Daniels is excited to manufacture excitement for the community as he stitches together the plans for this complex. And he expresses his thanks to those who saw the potential in this building.

“I am grateful to Friends of the Family. The organization made sure the building was not bulldozed and worked on the infrastructure,” he said.

Daniels sees great potential in the complex as a cultural/artist business center and as a tourist information center. He is developing ways to use the facility as a must-stop location for out-of-town visitors to learn more about the surrounding area and to experience the rich history of the community.

He feels there is also a need to draw upon the cultural/artist business center potential for the facility. Nowhere is the work toward that goal more evident than on the main floor of the three-story brick complex.

Carpeting has been removed from the floor, exposing the original wood floors of what was the loading dock area when the facility was used in manufacturing.

“We uncovered this beautiful hard maple floor,” said Daniels.

The main lobby of that area will serve as an art gallery. Daniels is planning for monthly events highlighting artisans and their crafts.

“We hope to hold wine and cheese events the last weekend of the month for this opportunity,” he said.

Plans are tentatively scheduled for the first event to be held March 28.

The main floor will also feature an artisan glass studio with plans for two glass blowers and two potters to work at the studio.

In addition, The Body Shop — a day spa and wellness center — is preparing to open on that main floor. Owner Kristin Graves was busy earlier this week removing carpet from the area that will contain the wellness center. She is filled with anticipation of opening her business in the complex. Part of her business will include the former offices of the building.

“We’re renovating the area and keeping as much of the original woodwork as possible,” she said.

Also slated to be moving to the main floor of the complex will be the Charles Thomas Salon and offices for the Insider 573 publication.

Daniels is also overseeing the Alexander’s banquet facility at the complex and is working on ways to make events held at the location to be “the best of memories.”

Visitors to The Factory will still find many of the tenants in the complex who have been leasing space for a time. The Ministerial Alliance Thrift Store — whose proceeds go to help the Food Pantry — is still a part of the building. Ballet Arts Center, the salons of Carrie Weems and Cheryl Waible, Cathy Baker’s photography, a basket booth, woodworkers and many more are still located in the building.

Daniels told the story of Millie Eaton who has a corner spot filled with art glass and a variety of items. Eaton worked at the Rice-Stix Factory in the 1930’s and told Daniels she recalls the day when the plant manager carried the shirts of Robert Wadlow, the man known as the “Alton Giant.”

He sees this part of the Factory thriving and bringing in even more artisans and crafters along with those already at the facility. Billboards are going up around the area advertising The Factory and the vision for the future.

For Daniels, this complex is “a building like no other,” filled with rich history and a vision of endless opportunities.

“I feel like things are coming along,” said Daniels.

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