Flat Iron Building. The triangle of land bordered by West State and West Court streets forms one of the “Five Points” in downtown Doylestown. Today it features the Flat Iron Building, but this property has seen many structures and co-occupations during its long the history:
• Spoke and Wheel Factory — Established in 1864, the factory made and sold “spokes and bent work” in “both home and foreign trade as far away as Ireland and England.”
• Shoe Factory — (No more information on this can be found.)
• Ice Plant — Wynne James incorporated the Doylestown Ice Manufacturing and Cold Storage Company in this site in 1909. (There is no record that this venture ever materialized.)
• Photographic Studio — Linford Craven was the creator of local landscape postcard images in addition to portrait and formal photography. He built a photo studio in 1886 next to the factory; when it burned down he rebuilt in the “flatiron” design.
• Millinery Shop — In the 1950s Miss Mallie Naylor owned and operated a ladies’ shop here.
• Real Estate Agency — The property was purchased in 1957 by Parke Wetherill, realtor, for use as offices.
• Restaurant — Paganini Ristorante opened in 1990 and remains there today.
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