Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Anderson Marine Railway Co. 1909-ca. 1915
• Braumstein Freres Inc. 1937-1955
• Trumbull Marine Railway Co. ca. 1905-1909
• United States Electric Co. ca. 1919-ca.1921

Use (Historic)

• Electrical Equipment
• Paper & Wood Products

Largest Documented Workforce

20 (1950)

Historic Narrative

The earliest portion of the former Braunstein Freres, Inc. plant was built ca. 1905 for the Trumbull Marine Railway Company. This firm, which was managed by superintendent Lewis Anderson, maintained a marine railway and shipyard and was listed in local directories as ‘Shipwrights, Caulkers, Boatbuilders, and Repairers.’ The company advertised ‘Vessels hauled out and repaired at short notice,’ and all manners of boat buildings, repairing, winterization, and storage took place on site. The Trumbull Marine Railway Company folded in 1909, however, Anderson leased the property from the former owners and operated the Anderson Marine Railway Company on the site until ca. 1915. Around 1919, the property was acquired by the United States Electric Company. This firm was organized that year for the manufacture of a variety of electrical devices including water and rivet heaters. The company was founded by George A.E. Jones, the inventor and patent holder of the later product, which allowed rivets to be installed while cold and then heated in place through the use of electricity. The United States Electric Company proved to be a short-lived venture, however, and by 1921 the Trumbull Street plant was in partial use as a boatbuilding yard, and partially occupied by the United States Naval Experimentation Station. It was not until 1937 that Braunstein Freres occupied the factory. The firm manufactured roll-your-own cigarette papers and was headquartered in Paris, France. The company employed 20 hands, mostly women, in their New London factory and continued to operate at this location into the mid-1950s. In 1955, however, it was announced that the plant would close. The explanations given included the booming American economy – which meant that fewer people were rolling their own cigarettes as opposed to buying pre-rolled packs – and the series of damaging hurricanes that hit in 1938, 1944, 1950, and 1954. After Braunstein Freres vacated the facility it was purchased by the United States Tobacco Company of New York, New York, which moved all of the equipment to its Nashville, Tennessee plant. The Trumbull Street factory has since been occupied by a variety of tenants, however, it is currently vacant.

Number of Existing Buildings

Roughly four (4) adjoining blocks.

Dates of Construction

ca. 1905, ca. 1910, ca. 1937.

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Mill

Architectural Description

The former Braunstein Freres plant is comprised of four primary adjoining blocks located on the south side of Trumbull Avenue opposite East Street and along the Thames River. The oldest block is that located at the southern end of the plant along the Thames River. This is a three-story, 43’ x 72’ red brick and wood-frame building with a front-facing gable roof erected ca. 1905. The first two stories and the gable ends of the block are brick, while the upper story is of wood framing with wood shingles. A one-story, 52’ x 178’ red brick block adjoins the building’s north elevation and extends to the south side of Trumbull Street. This was built ca. 1910 and is of brick pier construction. It has segmental-arched window openings with stone sills and 15-over-15 double-hung wood sash (where they remain), and a flat roof. A one-story red brick ells project from the center of the block’s west elevation, this also built ca. 1910. A fourth block was built on the northern end of the plant’s west elevation, likely around 1937. This is of red brick construction and stands one story tall. It mimics the details of the earlier brick blocks.

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick

Structural System(s)

• Load Bearing Masonry
• Wood Frame

Roof Form

• Flat
• Gable

Roof Material

• Asphalt
• Tar and Gravel

Power Source

• Electricity
• Steam

Condition

Fair, Deteriorated

Condition Notes

The complex is in fair to deteriorated condition. Most of the exterior walls of the plant are in need of repairs and almost all of the windows are damaged or have been removed. The entire plant is overgrown with vegetation and a pent roof likely added during the 1980s is deteriorated and falling off the plant.

Specific Location

One legal parcel (95 Trumbull Street) totaling 0.88-acres located on the south side of Trumbull Avenue opposite East Street and along the Thames River.

Adjacent To

• Water (for Transport)

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• G16/ 68/ 15 / Link →

Acreage

0.88

Use (Present)

• Vacant

Form Completed By

Lucas A. Karmazinas

Date

07/02/2015

Bibliography

1. List of Connecticut Manufacturers, 1922, 1924, 1930, 1932.
2. Directory of Connecticut State Manufacturers, 1936, 1939.
3. Industrial Directory of Connecticut, 1947.
4. Register of War Production Facilities in Connecticut, 1951.
5. Map of New London County; Baker, William A., 1854.
6. Atlas of New London County, Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868.
7. Sanborn Map Company, 1884, 1891, 1896, 1901, 1907, 1912, 1921, 1951, 1954.
8. Picturesque New London; The American Book Exchange, 1901.
9. The Whaling City; Decker, Robert Owen, 1976.