Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Converse Publishing Co. 1888-1902
• Curtis-Way Co. 1902-ca. 1962
• Domonel Press, Inc. ca. 1962-late 20th c.

Use (Historic)

• Paper & Wood Products

Largest Documented Workforce

100 (1906)

Historic Narrative

This factory complex was the home of the Converse Publishing Company, later the Curtis-Way Company, from 1888 until the early 1960s. The Converse Publishing Company was first established as a print shop by Aden J. Converse circa 1886. The shop was initially located at 140 State Street, however, in 1888, the company moved into a small two-story building at 159 Pratt Street (later renumbered as 169 Pratt Street, currently 163 Pratt Street). In 1896, the firm was acquired by James A. Curtis, a notable local businessman and wholesale grocer. Curtis reorganized the then printing, bookbinding, and electrotyping firm as the Converse Publishing Company, and hired Converse as its secretary and manager, and William H. Way as its superintendent. Having outgrown its initial workshop space, it was also at this time that the company enlarged the shop at 169 Pratt Street by extending the building to the south, thus creating the two-story frame block presently found on the western side of the factory complex. Aden J. Converse retired from the Converse Publishing Company in 1899, the same year the company was incorporated. At this time the firm employed thirty hands and its principal stockholders were Curtis and Way. The company, however, was about to experience rapid and substantial growth. In 1902, it was renamed the Curtis-Way Company and the firm expanded its line to include the production of advertising novelties, calendars, and calendar pads. By 1903, the company advertised themselves as the largest producers of calendars and calendar pads in New England and soon had to expand their factory to accommodate the resultant growth. A contemporary account from 1906 notes that the company’s workforce at that time had expanded to over 100 hands and that, ‘with the new three story brick addition to the factory, the company have buildings 90 feet long by 130 feet deep, all of which have been purchased by then through legitimate profits of an honorably conducted business during the past six years.’ The account continues, stating, ‘The work emanating from this complete printing plant, is shipped to every state east of the Mississippi River, and its reputation for twentieth century work and ability to compete with the largest concerns in the country are well known to the trade.’ The brick addition mentioned in the account included a northern section of the main block, this enlarged again not long afterwards judging from the architectural details of the building (certainly no later than 1934 when the completed building is visible in aerial photographs). Additional blocks were added over the ensuing decades and by 1950 these included the one-story concrete block addition at the northwest corner of the main block, a one-story printing building located at the southern end of the main block, another one-story binding block located south of the former, as well as the two Quonset huts, these used for paper storage. By 1962, the entire complex had been acquired by Domonel Press, Inc.

Number of Existing Buildings

Roughly eight (8) blocks.

Dates of Construction

ca. 1888, 1896, 1906, ca. 1920, ca, 1940.

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Mill
• Warehouse / Production Shed

Architectural Description

The former Curtis-Way Company plant is comprised of approximately eight primary adjoining one-, two-, and three-story blocks of red-brick, frame, or sheet metal construction located on the south side of Pratt Street roughly 100’ east of its intersection with Cedar Street. The most notable, or primary, section of the complex is a three-story, 54’ x 148’ red brick block located at the northeast corner of the property with frontage along Pratt Street. It has a trapezoidal footprint and was erected in two stages, these completed in 1906 and ca. 1920. The building is of standard brick-mill construction and is 6 bays wide and 14 bays deep. It has a poured concrete foundation, red-brick walls, brick cornice, concrete coping, and a flat roof. The primary entrance is located in the easternmost bay of the north elevation, while two secondary entrances are located on the east (side) elevation. Fenestration throughout the block includes a mix of six-over-six double-hung wood and sliding four-pane metal sash, these set in segmental-arched openings with concrete sills. A small one-story, four-bay, 38’ x 34’ concrete block addition is located on the west side of the main block and north of the oldest portion of the building, the latter being a ca. 1888 and 1896 two-story, 31’ x 104’ frame block extending almost the entire length of the main block. The concrete block secondary block was built ca. 1940 and has a brick foundation, frame walls sheathed with asphalt shingles, one-over one double-hung windows with frame surrounds, and a shed roof. South of the main and secondary blocks there is an assortment of one-story tertiary blocks of brick or sheet metal construction erected ca. 1940. Among these are two 100’-long metal Quonset huts located at the southeast corner of the factory complex.

Exterior Material(s)

• Asphalt Shingles
• Brick
• Steel
• Wood

Structural System(s)

• Load Bearing Masonry
• Structural Steel or Iron
• Wood Frame

Roof Form

• Flat
• Round
• Shed

Roof Material

• Asphalt
• EPDM
• Metal

Power Source

• Electricity
• Steam

Condition

Fair

Condition Notes

The factory is in overall fair condition. Although some of the original windows have been replaced or infilled, the majority of the plant appears structurally sound and reasonably well maintained.

Specific Location

One 1.00-acre parcel (163 Pratt Street) on the south side of Pratt Street roughly 100’ east of its intersection with Cedar Street.

Adjacent To

• Main Roads

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 0301/0257/0008/0000 / Link →

Acreage

1.0

Use (Present)

• Other: Fire May 2023 appears to have destroyed the earliest 2-story wood frame block at the center and rear one story blocks.
• Vacant

Form Completed By

Lucas A. Karmazinas

Date

05/22/2015

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 Haven County, H & C.T. Smith, 1856.
6. Atlas of New Haven County, Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868.
7. Birdseye View of Meriden, Connecticut, O.H. Bailey & Co., 1875.
8. Birdseye View of Meriden, Connecticut, Hughes and Bailey, 1918.
9. Sanborn Map Company, 1884, 1891, 1896, 1901, 1950, 1953.
10. Hartford Courant, 1940.
11. An Historic Record and Pictorial Description of the Town of Meriden, Connecticut; Gillespie, C. Bancroft, ed., 1906.
12. A Modern History of New Haven and Eastern New Haven County; Hill, Everett G., 1918.