In late 19th and early 20th century Jenney Retail Company and Burnham & Co. fought a fierce battle over Rocane's markets. The battle was won by Jenney Retail and the final nail in Burnham's coffin was the gigantic Jenney's Department Store on Main Street constructed in 1927. The base was reserved for retail and the tower housed offices of Jenney Retail Company headquarters. The building is 325 feet (99 m) tall and has 26 stories.
Today Jenney's department store has expanded as it includes all the lower floors of the buildings on the block. The tower of the original Jenney Building now houses a hotel and there's a restaurant on the top floor. Burnham & Co., on the other hand, operates some discount stores in the suburbs.
In late 1920's Delaware Company undertook two building projects that were something unprecedented in Rocane. First to be completed was the 40-story Lamb Building on 2nd North Street. At 492 feet (150 m) it became the tallest building in Rocane, but only held that title for a year. Building's main tenant was Rocane Stock Exchange, which moved in right before the stock market crash. Although it was hit hard, it survived and still today operates in Lamb Building. The observation platform of Lamb Building was one of the major attractions in Rocane for many decades, until it got overshadowed by taller skyscrapers.
Delaware Company's second major project was this tower on 3rd North Street. It was the last obsession of Peter McKim, the owner of Delaware Company, though he never saw it completed, as he passed in 1929, a year before the building was finished. The building was named McKim Tower to commemorate Peter McKim, the man behind so many early 20th century buildings in Rocane. Most of the buildings offices were rented beforehand, but when the building was finally finished, the Great Depression had hit Rocane's commerce and the building stood almost empty for the first five years of its existence.
McKim Tower is 541 feet (165 m) tall, has 45 stories and was Rocane's tallest building from 1930 to 1965 being the second longest holder of that title.
