The “Island Foundry Works” that once stood on this site was established in 1872 by Charles Walker Shumway, who opened Batavia’s first hardware store and tin shop in 1849. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 created a demand for building materials, Shumway and Allen M. Merrill purchased about 1½ acres at this location to establish a gray iron foundry, originally powered by the Fox River.

In its early years, the company cast ornamental iron columns for Chicago’s buildings, including the Palmer House. By 1895, it was producing iron castings for sewing machines and its own Enterprise Furnace. By 1920, it was making cistern covers, horse ties for the U.S. Cavalry, school desks, and countless other products. By 1956, the company began to specialize in precision iron casting.

The foundry, renowned for producing awards, cast the original iron mold for the Academy Award of Merit—the Oscar—in 1928, and cast the statuettes themselves through 1982. In addition, the company cast iron molds for portions of the Emmy Award statuette and the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

In December 2002, the foundry was closed due to changing trends in the market. Its buildings were razed in 2007.