The city of Louisville was understandably eager to annex the lucrative St. Helens area, but in 1938 the Kentucky General Assembly passed a bill requiring that at least 50% of the residents of an incorporated area approve annexation by a "Class I" city (a definition which included only Louisville).
Two months later, this area, including all of the distilleries, was incorporated as Shively, ending Louisville's annexation attempt.
The main office building was built in 1933 in the Regency revival style, and served as Seagram's headquarters for the state of Kentucky.
The Art deco brick warehouses were constructed in 1936, and included a system of tunnels so that barrels of bourbon could be moved around the complex without being seen by the public.
[5] The complex also produced industrial alcohol during World War II for the production of synthetic rubber and medicines.