Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Metropolitan Auto & Carriage Co. 1911-1919
• Metropolitan Body Co. Inc. 1919-1938
• Strafield Co. 1949-late-20th c.

Use (Historic)

• Electrical Equipment
• Transportation

Largest Documented Workforce

Unknown.

Historic Narrative

The Metropolitan Body Company was originally organized in 1908 as the Metropolitan Carriage Company. The Bridgeport, Connecticut firm was established by Philip and William Carlson, two newly-arrived immigrants from an area near modern-day Minsk, Belarus. The Carlson brothers began their carriage building business in a small shop located at 1868 Main Street in Bridgeport, however, a new factory on Grand Street was built for the company late in 1911 after the firm began manufacturing light truck chassis. After moving to Grant Street early in 1912, the business was reorganized as the Metropolitan Auto and Carriage Company. The Metropolitan Auto and Carriage Company enjoyed considerable early success, largely because of its auto body work. The need for larger quarters was identified by 1914, however, work on a new three-story red brick addition fronting on Hurd Avenue was not initiated until 1917. Once completed, however, the expansion gave the company 28,000 square feet of modern factory space fully dedicated to truck body production. Although the United State’s entry into the First World War dealt a significant financial blow to the company in the form of canceled production orders, the firm quickly regained its footing by early 1919 and the business was recapitalized as the Metropolitan Body Company boasting $200,000 in capital on January 29, 1919. By 1920, the Metropolitan Body Company maintained showrooms in Boston, Massachusetts and Manhattan, New York in addition to the firm’s offices and factory in Bridgeport. The company had an annual production capacity of 2,500 truck bodies per year, these including both standard delivery and dump truck designs in either 5- or 2- to 3- ton models. Further capacity was made possible by the late 1920s, as additional branches were established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1921, and Cleveland, Ohio in 1927. The business slipped into temporary receivership during the early 1930s, however, contracts secured with the United States Army and Postal Service by 1934 helped the company return to profitability. In 1937, the Metropolitan Body Company introduced its ‘Metro body,’ a pioneering design for an all steel multi-stop retail delivery vehicle that benefited from both its light weight and high maneuverability. These were produced for a number of notable automobile manufacturers, including Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, and General Motors, however the company’s relationship with the International Harvester Corporation would become the most significant, as that firm eventually acquired control of the Metropolitan Body Company in 1948. In the meantime, the Bridgeport firm vacated its Grand Street factory and moved into the former Saltex Textile Looms plant at 151 Kossuth Street in Bridgeport in 1937. The Grand Street plant subsequently remained idle until 1949, when it was occupied by the Stratfield Company, a manufacturer of electrical devices and equipment.

Number of Existing Buildings

Six (6) adjoining primary blocks.

Dates of Construction

1911, 1917, ca. 1920.

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Mill
• Warehouse / Production Shed

Architectural Description

The former Metropolitan Body Company factory is comprised of six adjoining primary blocks located on the north side of Grand Street, at the northwest corner of Grand Street’s intersection with Hurd Avenue. The oldest block associated with the plant is located at the southwest corner of the complex and was built in 1911. It consists of a two-story, 36’ x 98’ cast stone block manufacturing building with rectangular window openings, concrete window sills, and a front-facing gable roof with wood-frame gable ends. A loading bay centered on the façade (south elevation) has a concrete lintel with embossed lettering that reads, “CARLSON BROS.” A three-story, 50’ x 116’ red brick manufacturing block was erected adjoining the north end of the original factory’s east elevation in 1917. The 1917 building is of brick pier construction and has large rectangular loading bay and window openings with concrete sills, a stepped red brick façade (east elevation) with concrete coping, and a flat roof. A concrete plaque that reads, “CARLSON BROS/1917,” is centered below the parapet. A four-story, 14’ x 30’ red brick freight elevator is located at the western end of the 1917 block’s south elevation and adjoins the east elevation of the 1911 building. Three red brick additions to the Metropolitan Body Company factory were erected ca. 1920. Two are located adjoining the east elevation of the 1911 building and the south elevation of the 1917 bock. One is a two-story, 48’ x 52’ building, while the other stands one story tall and measures roughly 64’ x 52’. Both have concrete foundations, red brick buttresses, rectangular loading bay and window openings, tile coping, and a flat roof. The third ca. 1920 block adjoins the north elevation of the 1911 and 1917 buildings. It is a one-story, 48’ x 82’ red brick block with a stone foundation, large rectangular loading bay and window openings with concrete sills, tile coping, and a flat roof with small sawtooth monitors.

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick
• Cast Stone

Structural System(s)

• Load Bearing Masonry

Roof Form

• Flat
• Gable
• Sawtooth

Roof Material

• Asphalt

Power Source

• Electricity

Condition

Fair

Condition Notes

The complex is in fair condition. The majority of the original windows have been replaced, however, overall, the various blocks appear well maintained and structurally sound.

Specific Location

One 0.7-acre parcel (434 Grand Street) located on the north side of Grand Street, at the northwest corner of Grand Street’s intersection with Hurd Avenue.

Adjacent To

• Main Roads

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 47/1002/12/A. / Link →

Acreage

0.7

Use (Present)

• Commercial
• Industrial
• Vacant

Form Completed By

Lucas A. Karmazinas

Date

01/19/2016

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 Fairfield County; Baker, William A., 1854.
6. Atlas of the City of Bridgeport; J.B. Beers & Co., 1876.
7. Atlas of the City and Town of Bridgeport; G.M. Hopkins & Co., 1888, 1917.
8. Atlas of Bridgeport; Kershaw, William H., 1910.
9. Sanborn Map Company, 1884, 1888, 1898, 1904, 1913, 1939, 1950.
10. Aerial Survey of Connecticut, 1934, 1951, 1965, 1970, 1985.
11. Bridgeport City Directory, Various editions.
12. Hartford Courant, 1918, 1948.
13. Metropolitan Body Company, Encyclopedia of American Coachbuilders & Coachbuilding website.
14. A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport; Orcutt, Samuel, 1886.
15. History of Bridgeport and Vicinity; S.J. Clarke Publishing, 1917.