The Buildings

The first decade of the company experienced incredible growth as N.S. moved from his home to a small building on Messanie Street. The Hillyard structures began to emulate the company’s rapidly rising leadership in the sanitary maintenance industry. After moving into an even bigger ninth street building in 1918, the owner built his own gymnasium on the second floor three years later. As the largest gym west of the Mississippi, the building was home to his AAU basketball teams and provided an opportunity to test improved floor finishes and coatings. The continuing collection of buildings, including the current structures between 3rd and 4th Streets, showed glowing evidence of the company’s success and growth.