Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Lombardi Motor Car Co. ca. 1913-late 20th century

Use (Historic)

• Clocks, Precision Equipment
• Electrical Equipment
• Transportation

Largest Documented Workforce

Unknown.

Historic Narrative

The Lombardi Motor Car Company was established by Giovanni (John) Lombardi Sr. around 1897. Lombardi was an Italian immigrant and arrived in the United States in 1884. He originally settled in New Haven, to which his father had emigrated five years before, yet moved to Derby after marrying in 1894. In 1896, Lombardi founded his first business, which was an operation located on Elizabeth Street that sold and repaired bicycles and sporting goods. He also developed and manufactured bicycles of his own design during this period. Lombardi was quick to recognize the potential of the fledgling automobile industry and he is credited with being among the first individuals in Derby to establish an auto garage and service station. He also swiftly familiarized himself with automobile technology. By 1898 Lombardi had designed and built his own horseless carriage as well as held a patent for an automobile transmission. In 1902, Lombardi moved his garage to 67 Minerva Street, which he enlarged through the construction of additional blocks around 1910 and 1913. The expanded plant allowed Lombardi to venture into the design and manufacture of automobile-related and other mechanical devices. These included a variety of products, among them being speedometers, horns, flexible tubing, generators, marine engines, and radio condensers. By the mid-1930s, the Lombardi Motor Car Company had grown into one of the largest automobile repair shops and dealerships in the Derby area. This success continued after the death Giovanni Lombardi Sr. in 1935, when control of the company passed to his sons, John Jr. and William Lombardi. The firm continued to operated into the second half of the 20th century, however, by 2005 the property between Minerva and Caroline Streets was occupied by Vintage Motor Cars, LLC. The buildings again fell vacant by 2011, and between 2011 and 2012 the two western blocks formerly occupied by the Lombardi Motor Car Company were demolished.

Number of Existing Buildings

One (1)

Dates of Construction

1902, ca. 1910, ca. 1913.

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Warehouse / Production Shed
• Other: Automobile Garage

Architectural Description

The former Lombardi Motor Car Company garage and machine shop is a two-story red brick building erected ca. 1913. The structure was once one of three adjoining buildings extending between Caroline and Minerva Streets, however, only the building in question (also identified as 136 Caroline Street) remains. The other structures were demolished between 2011 and 2012. The extant building measures 53’ x 85’ and abuts modern structures to the north and south. It has a concrete foundation and floors, red brick walls, segmental-arched window and pass-through door openings, stone windowsills, brick parapet, tile coping, and a flat roof. A one-bay garage door opening is roughly centered on the east elevation. This has a pair of wood doors constructed of vertical wood boards with multi-light openings in their upper halves. The garage door opening is flanked by a single window and door opening on each side. The window openings on the first floor of the building have been infilled with concrete block, however, the original fenestration on the upper floor remains. This consists of eight-over-eight double-hung frame sash.

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick

Structural System(s)

• Load Bearing Masonry

Roof Form

• Flat

Roof Material

• Asphalt

Power Source

• Electricity

Condition

Fair, Deteriorated

Condition Notes

The building is in fair to deteriorated condition. The exterior walls are heavily stained and show some deterioration, and the windows, which are original, are deteriorated and missing numerous panes of glass. An adjacent one-story brick block on the west side of building has been partially demolished, however, this does not appear to have compromised the integrity of the primary structure.

Specific Location

Only rear building (aka 136 Caroline Street) remains, on west side of Caroline Street between 3rd and 4th Streets, on this 0.73 acre parcel

Adjacent To

• Business District
• Main Roads

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 8-5 105 (for record, use link and type in address or parcel number) / Link →

Acreage

0.73

Use (Present)

• Other: 11/2022: DECD awarded $650k grant to demolish and remediate in anticipation of new 90 unit apartment building
• Vacant

Form Completed By

Lucas A. Karmazinas

Date

01/13/2015

Bibliography

1. List of Connecticut Manufacturers, 1922, 1924, 1930, 1932.
2. Directory of Connecticut State Manufacturers, 1936, 1939.
3. Map of New Haven County, H & C.T. Smith, 1856.
4. Atlas of New Haven County, Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868.
5. Industrial Directory of Connecticut, 1947.
6. Register of War Production Facilities in Connecticut, 1951.
7. Sanborn Map Company, 1896, 1901, 1906, 1912, 1924, 1947.
8. Aerial Survey of Connecticut, 1934, 1965.
9. Bird’s Eye View of Birmingham, Connecticut, O.H. Bailey, 1876.
10. The History of the Old Town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880, 1880.
11. History of New Haven County, 1892.
12. Tercentenary Pictorial and History of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Malloy, Leo T., 1935.
13. Derby, Connecticut 300th Anniversary Commemorative Book; 1675-1975, 1975.