THE OLD KODAK BUILDING A KIRK FAMILY INVESTMENT PROVES THERE’S LIFE AFTER KODACHROME

As anyone who moves to Findlay quickly learns, things are not named for what they are but rather what they used to be. And so it goes with 1100 East Main Cross Street, which while named “Riverside Suites,” is almost always referred to as, “The Old Kodak Building.” In time, I would become increasingly curious about this building and its history. What I discovered is that it tells a very interesting story with lessons on technology, the consumer, and the entrepreneurial spirit. A Kodak K-14 Film Processing Machine (front/back). Units such as these were used to process film at The Old Kodak Building in Findlay. Photographer: Michael Spear Hawkins. All rights reserved. THE GOLDEN AGE OF KODAK In 1955, doors opened at 1100 East Main Cross Street. Then the development of its films at labs it owned and operated owner, Eastman Kodak, commissioned the building as a 1 throughout the world. In 1998, Qualex, Inc. began assuming processing center for its popular Kodachrome film. Kodachrome, responsibility for the processing facilities under a joint venture which was invented in 1935, was the long-preferred film for arrangement between Kodak and Fuqua Industries. At its peak, both cinematography and still photography. It was the film used Qualex operated 53 film-processing facilities, which included by photographer Steve McCurry to capture the iconic image of the Findlay location. “Afghan Girl” appearing on the cover of National Geographic magazine in 1985. It was also used for Marilyn Monroe’s first 2 nudes. But its credits certainly do not end there. A song by Paul THE END OF FILM PROCESSING Simon was named after it. So too was a state park. With competition from Fuji and others in the 1980s along with the emergence of digital cameras in the 1990s, demand for film Developing Kodachrome film was no easy task, however. The 3 processing began to drop off precipitously. In response, Qualex process, which even had a name, required complex machines was forced to begin and technicians skilled in chemistry. For years Kodak handled consolidation of its processing facilities. Sadly, the Findlay location was not immune. In early 1995, Qualex Vice President, Jim Hewitt, announced its closure. Work at the facility would officially end in March of that Rolls of Kodak Kodachrome film. year, leaving 139 Kodak breaks ground at 1100 East Main Cross. Photo courtesy of the Hancock Historical Museum. employees out of a job.

2The photo sequence, which would yield the famed “Golden Dreams” and “A New Wrinkle” images, was taken by Tom Kelley on May 27, 1949, using 8x10 Kodachrome film. Marilyn was 1Prior to this, the property was undeveloped and used as a farm or field. It did, however, paid $50.00 for the shoot. have an interesting connection with the Civil War. Named “Camp Vance,” in honor of 3There were various iterations, but the last version in use by Kodak was identified as the “K-14 early Findlay settler, Wilson Vance, the property served as training grounds for the 21st Process.” According to historical records, the film development processes used at The Old Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Kodak Building included the K-12 Process, the K-14 Process and the Ektachrome Film Process. More plant closings would follow as consumer preference for With continued investment, and bold determination, the Kirk digital photos began to outpace that of film.4 Family would go on to transform the property from its industrial roots. The building now serves as one of Findlay’s premier office In December 2008, Qualex announced the closure of the last complexes, housing everything from Fortune 500 companies of its facilities, essentially ending send-out film development to small, entrepreneurial start-ups. If only Kodak were there to by Kodak. A year later, Kodak declared that it would no longer capture it all on film... manufacture Kodachrome film due to declining demand. By 2010, only one Kodak-certified facility remained for Kodachrome film: Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas.5

THE OLD KODAK BUILDING GETS A NEW OWNER Within the same year of Qualex announcing its closure, the Kirk Family would go on to become the next owner of The Old Kodak Building.6 An appraisal report performed in 1995, the year of the sale, notes the condition of the building at the time:

The property consists of an irregular 21.02 acre parcel of land improved with a one and two story masonry industrial building erected in 1955 and containing 63,450 SF… The site is typical of the area and is The Old Kodak Building reborn as “Riverside Suites”. functionally adequate for a variety of improvements. It is noted that the subject site was reportedly contaminated in the past with some types(s) of organic waste. By, Christian H. Pedersen

In the years that followed, the Kirk Family would undertake About the Author: exhaustive environmental research and remediation at the Christian serves as Senior Executive and General Counsel with 7 property. Phase I and Phase II assessments were completed, The Kirk Family of Companies. He, among other things, oversees asbestos was abated, and contaminated soils were removed.8 management and leasing of the Kirk Development property So comprehensive were these efforts that, in 2002, the Ohio EPA holdings, which includes The Old Kodak Building. issued a formal Covenant Not to Sue, essentially establishing the property as “clean.”

4Kodak attempted to buffer the impacts of the closures by introducing a K-Lab Processor for use by independent labs. While boasting many advantages over the traditional K-14 machine, the K-Lab units never took off like Kodak predicted. 5Dwayne’s stopped accepting Kodachrome film for processing later that year. 6Title was initially taken through Kirk Family entity, Findlay Machine & Tool, Inc. In 2003, ownership was transferred to Kirk Family entity, JDP Ventures, LLC, which does business as “Kirk Development.” 7Much of this work would be undertaken by OHM Corp., a publicly traded environmental response company which brothers James, Joseph, and William Kirk began in the 1970s together with their father, Robert “Bob” Kirk. 8In all, roughly 123 tons of soil was removed from the site under OHM Corp.’s remediation plan. Contaminated soils were disposed of at a certified facility in New York.