Skip to product information
GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Celebrate a landmark in Wisconsin retail history with this T. A. Chapman Co. Metal Sign. Timothy Appleton Chapman founded the business in Milwaukee in 1857, then opened a downtown Wisconsin Avenue flagship in 1872. The store was rebuilt after fire in 1884, and the company later expanded beyond Milwaukee to Madison and Appleton. Its history reflects the growth and changes of a family-founded department store, making this sign a meaningful accent for collectors of Milwaukee and Wisconsin heritage.
T. A. Chapman Co., commonly known as Chapman's, was a department store chain based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Timothy Appleton Chapman founded the company in 1857. In 1872, he opened its flagship store on Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. Fire destroyed the original Wisconsin Avenue location in 1884, and the store was rebuilt. The company later expanded beyond Milwaukee: in 1978 it acquired Manchester's Department Stores in Madison, Wisconsin. The Chapman family retained ownership until 1983, and the chain eventually reached seven locations. By the time the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1987, it had six stores: three in Milwaukee, two in Madison, and one in Appleton. The company’s history links a family-owned retail business founded in the nineteenth century with downtown Milwaukee and later expansion into other Wisconsin cities. Its documented story includes a rebuilt flagship, an acquisition, a change in family ownership, and a bankruptcy filing.
T. A. Chapman Co. Metal Sign
$69.99
Sale price
$69.99
Regular price
Celebrate a landmark in Wisconsin retail history with this T. A. Chapman Co. Metal Sign. Timothy Appleton Chapman founded the business in Milwaukee in 1857, then opened a downtown Wisconsin Avenue flagship in 1872. The store was rebuilt after fire in 1884, and the company later expanded beyond Milwaukee to Madison and Appleton. Its history reflects the growth and changes of a family-founded department store, making this sign a meaningful accent for collectors of Milwaukee and Wisconsin heritage.
T. A. Chapman Co., commonly known as Chapman's, was a department store chain based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Timothy Appleton Chapman founded the company in 1857. In 1872, he opened its flagship store on Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. Fire destroyed the original Wisconsin Avenue location in 1884, and the store was rebuilt. The company later expanded beyond Milwaukee: in 1978 it acquired Manchester's Department Stores in Madison, Wisconsin. The Chapman family retained ownership until 1983, and the chain eventually reached seven locations. By the time the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1987, it had six stores: three in Milwaukee, two in Madison, and one in Appleton. The company’s history links a family-owned retail business founded in the nineteenth century with downtown Milwaukee and later expansion into other Wisconsin cities. Its documented story includes a rebuilt flagship, an acquisition, a change in family ownership, and a bankruptcy filing.
| 7" x 5" (Horizontal) | |
| Width, in | 7.00 |
| Height, in | 5.00 |
| Depth, in | 0.12 |
Product features
- 100% white aluminum composite — strong, rigid, and lightweight
- Matte full-color print on one side for crisp, non-reflective finish
- Eleven sizes available; horizontal, vertical, and square orientations
- Includes one mounting block, metal plate, and double-sided tape; customer assembly required
- Indoor use only — durable for interior displays
Care instructions
- Use non-abrasive, non-ammonium based products for cleaning. Dish soap with warm water is only recommended for spot cleaning.