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Early temperature control installation at Northwestern Mutual
January 27, 1886 (PD: 201301)
The Loyalty Building in Milwaukee
One of Johnson Controls’ earliest temperature control installations occurred at another venerable Milwaukee company, The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Founded in 1857, Northwestern Mutual is, today, the nation’s largest direct provider of individual life insurance.
On January 27, 1886, less than a year after the Johnson Electric Service Company (Johnson Controls’ original name) was founded, Northwestern Mutual contracted with Johnson for $495.43 worth of temperature controls for their new headquarters in the Loyalty Building at 611 North Broadway Street in Milwaukee.
The Loyalty Building served as Northwestern Mutual’s home until 1914, when the company moved to its current location at 720 East Wisconsin Avenue (its original office there has been joined by several other buildings which make up a large campus headquarters).
As for the Loyalty Building, it still stands today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
