Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• A. W. Flint Co.
• Kilborn and Bishop Co. c.1923-1951

Use (Historic)

• Consumer Products, Small Appliances
• Fabricated Metal Products

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

Brass and Copper Forging; ladders See River St HD nomination, text https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/nrhp/text/88003213.pdf and photos https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/nrhp/photos/88003213.pdf

Number of Existing Buildings

n/a

Dates of Construction

1883, 1899, 1915, 1946

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Administration
• Powerhouse
• Warehouse / Production Shed

Architectural Description

From River Street Historic District National Register Nomination The Kilborn and Bishop Company Complex consists of two sets of connected buildings ranged along either side of a rail spur that runs through the middle of the property. The first set of buildings (A, B, C, and D) were put up at different times by various occupants of the property. Buildings E, F, and G were erected by Kilborn and Bishop, under whose ownership the historic fabric of the complex reached its present extent. A: Brick factory, erected 1883 by National Pipe Bending Company, 2-story, near-flat roof with ridge monitor, segmental-arched openings including central freight doors on both stories facing River Street; originally used for all the operations of National Pipe Bending before it moved across the street in 1890. (Photograph 17) B: Frame storage building with brick foundation, erected as a 1-story structure about 1899 by Lavigne Manufacturing Company, a hardware and machinery producer that occupied the site briefly; raised to its present height by Kilborn and Bishop in the early 20th century; walls presently covered with ashpalt shingles. (Photograph 15) C: Brick boiler house, 1-story, gable roof, segmental-arched openings, erected around 1899 by Lavigne Manufacturing Company. (Photograph 14) D: Brick industrial building erected after 1946 by Flint Ladder Company; non-contributing. (Photograph 20) E: Brick factory, c.1915, 1-story, gable roof, rectangular windows set in corbeled panels between pilasters; southeast corner is beveled to accomodate the rail spur; originally used as a foundry. (Photographs 16,18,19) P: Brick connector between Buildings E and G, c.1915, 1-story, originally used for storage of steel; a brick wall with pilasters also connects Buildings E and G at the sidewalk. (Photographs 18,19) G: Brick office building, c.1915, 2-story, random-ashlar foundation, flat roof with stepped parapet, simple cornice with dentils, rectangular windows, soldier courses marking the levels of the first-story lintels and second-story lintels and sills. (Photograph 20)

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick
• Wood

Structural System(s)

• Load Bearing Masonry
• Wood Frame

Roof Form

• Flat
• Gable

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

n/a

Condition Notes

n/a

Specific Location

Between Chapel St. and River St. on the east side of Lloyd St.
Located in the River Street Historic District.

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 165/704/100 / Link →

Acreage

1.01

Use (Present)

• Commercial
• Other: 9/2023 for sale for redevelopment

Form Completed By

n/a

Date

n/a

Bibliography

1. Roth, Matthew and Bruce Clouette. 1988. River Street Historic District National Register Nomination No. 88003213. National Park Service.