South Bend Range Factory, South Bend

A Century Of Making Ranges And Metal Products

Malleable Steel Range Manufacturing moved to the Cherry Street site in 1907 to make coal- and wood-fired kitchen ranges. Under the South Bend Range name, the company expanded into commercial ovens and ranges used by hotels and restaurants.

The factory also produced cooking equipment for the armed forces during World War II. After a 1982 merger created South Bend Escan Corporation, the company moved operations to North Carolina in 1983.

A Fragmented Industrial Afterlife

South Bend Metal Processing became the main tenant from the mid-1980s through 1997. Wire-harness production, machine-shop work, and auto repair continued in portions of the complex until around 2000, after which the property reportedly remained vacant.

The southern half was demolished in 2012. In 2025, the city addressed more than 70 deteriorated 55-gallon drums, making environmental risk part of the site's final chapter.

Demolition And The Record That Remains

The city acquired the property through a 2024 tax sale, began demolition in January 2026, and announced completion on May 20. The demolition portion cost approximately $595,000, with a second cleanup phase planned later in 2026.

Future redevelopment should not turn the parcel into a blank slate. Documentation, interpretation, and environmental records can keep the labor and production history visible even after the factory itself has disappeared.