Roschman Button factory (former), 25 Regina Street South
In the 1870s, Richard Roschman (or Roeschman) learned about button-making while working at the button factory in Berlin (now Kitchener), and, in 1878, established his own button-making business in partnership with his brother Rudolph. They built this factory on Queen (now Regina) Street in 1886. It is a two-storey buff brick structure. Its design is relatively utilitarian with a few decorative elements. The many windows provide natural light inside. Note the corbelled brickwork. The factory closed in 1946, unequipped to produce the less expensive plastic buttons that had become popular by this time. The building was then purchased by The Ontario Glove Manufacturing Company and later by Schendel Stationery. It is now the Waterloo Community Arts Centre.
