J. Herman Hardebeck succeeded in bringing the David Bradley Manufacturing Co. to North Kankakee in April of 1895. On July 13, 1895, the village name was changed to Bradley City, and then in March of 1896 to just Bradley. In 1958 the name was changed to the George D. Roper Corporation. In 1962 Sears merged the David Bradley Mfg. Co. and the Newark, Ohio, Company into a single unit. The Bradley plant became known as the Newark, Ohio, Co., Bradley Division. In 1964 the Newark, Ohio, Company merged with the George D. Roper Corporation. In 1982 the Bradley Roper plant was given to the village of Bradley. In 1986 fire destroyed 6 buildings of the Bradley plant.

Six of the Bradley Roper buildings were destroyed by fire on July 14, 1986.

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