Frank Ellison Tribute Series #3

The Richmond Packing Co. is the 3rd kit in in my Frank Ellison Tribute Series. This easy to build laser cut kit features laser cut masonite walls, basswood freight dock, doors, windows and stairs. The roof is mounting board with peel and stick shingles The footprint is 10-1/8 x 12-1/2 which includes the freight dock.  

In his 1946 article, Ellison described this building as an “old brownstone residence built perhaps 75 years ago for the richest man in town and subsequently abandoned.” (This would date the structure to 1871). “We shall suppose that some of the partitions were ripped out, a window or two bricked up, other windows enlarged into doors, a heating plant, boilers, and vats installed, and a condenser put in for the cold room. Short fat pipes and a ventilator pierce the old slate roof and a cattle pen occupies the back yard.” He also mentioned “limestone sills” and “blocks of red sandstone... set in brown mortar.” This, then, is part of Ellison’s genius. Thinking about the history of what he was modeling, created a realistic building that showed credible and logical changes over time which accounted for its present state.

Although Ellison saw this as a local meat processing plant, it lends itself to any type of small manufacturing company. However, for those who would like a place to drop off their cattle cars, a cattle pen will be available separately in the near future.