Western Cordage Company

The Old Towne Orange Historic District is the largest National Register District in California, consisting of residential, business and industrial areas. The brick building identifying its former occupant, Western Cordage Company, in white block letters on its street-facing wall contributes to the district in the latter category. Established in 1923, the Great Western Cordage Company acquired the building from the Richland Walnut Association in 1927 to manufacture manila rope. In 1947, the factory was bought out by the Tubbs Cordage Company, one of the largest rope-making firms on the West Coast. They operated the plant until 1986. It was reopened briefly as Tubbs Rope ₩orks before moving to Arizona in 1989. Chapman University bought the old buildings in 1999 and has renovated them for offices and classrooms.

Orange, Orange County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt