Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Murphy Mfg. Co. 1907-1923
• Peerless Mfg. 1923-late-20th c.
• Tower Optical Co. 1932-Present (2015)
• W.G. LeCount’s Machine Shop 1899-1906

Use (Historic)

• Consumer Products, Small Appliances
• Fabricated Metal Products

Largest Documented Workforce

10-24 (1939).

Historic Narrative

W.G. LeCount’s Machine Shop was established in Norwalk, Connecticut by Norwalk resident, William G. LeCount, in 1899. LeCount erected and occupied a shop on the east side of East Avenue that same year where he manufactured machinist tools until 1906. In 1906, LeCount moved his business to Merritt Street in South Norwalk and his former shop fell vacant. In 1907 it was occupied by the Murphy Manufacturing Company, a producer of toys and novelties organized by Daniel T. Murphy in 1906.

The Murphy Manufacturing Company originally occupied a shop at 205 Washington Street in East Norwalk. The firm did much of its business through the sale of products through mail order, and in 1920 the company expanded its catalog by offering flowers for purchase by the same process. The company expanded its East Avenue plant as well as erected several greenhouses in order to grow the flowers and shrubs it would sell. The response appears to have been positive as the company built and occupied a new factory on High Street in 1923.

The East Avenue mill next passed to the Peerless Manufacturing Company, which previously occupied a shop at 40 Water Street in South Norwalk. The Peerless Manufacturing Company was led by John E. Fidler and Towers F. Hamilton and was incorporated in 1920. Although it was primarily a machine tool and engineering firm, the company also specialized in the production of centrifugal pumps, cellar drainers, and hot water circulators. The company occupied the mill into the late-20th century, however, starting in 1932 the firm began to share the building with the Tower Optical Company, a manufacturer of binocular viewers established by Towers F. Hamilton. Binocular viewers are the iconic viewing machines frequently found at tourist sites into which visitors deposit a set amount of coinage in order to operate the device and Hamilton purchased the firm that originally designed the product shortly after the Peerless Manufacturing Company was contracted to produce parts for the machines. Tower Optical remains in operation on East Avenue.

Number of Existing Buildings

Four (4) adjoining primary blocks.

Dates of Construction

1899, ca. 1905, ca. 1920.

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Mill

Architectural Description

W.G. LeCount’s Machine Shop is comprised of four primary adjoining blocks located on the east side of East Avenue, roughly 350’ southwest of East Avenue’s intersection with Cottage Street. The northernmost block was erected as a one-story wood-frame boiler house in 1899. The block measures roughly 20’ x 38’ and was raised to two stories in height around 1920. The building is clad in non-original aluminum siding and has rectangular window openings with plain wood surrounds, six-over-six double-hung wood sash, and a side-gabled roof. The primary entry to the plant is located the southern end of the block’s west (façade) elevation and is sheltered by a shed roof. A two-story, 56’ x 40’ wood-frame block adjoins the south elevation of the boiler house. This was built as a one- and two-story block in 1899, however, the southern third of the building was raised to bring the entire block to two stories ca. 1905. The building was also expanded roughly 10’ to the east around 1920, thus resulting in its present footprint. The block is clad in non-original aluminum siding and has rectangular window openings with plain wood surrounds, a mix of six-over-six double-hung and large multipane pivot-style wood sash, and a shed roof.

A one-story, 22’ x 20’ red brick storage building was erected as a freestanding block at the southern end of the plant in 1899. This has rectangular window openings with both concrete and brick sills, a single pass-through door, and a flat roof. The block was connected to the plant through the construction of a narrow wood-frame ell during the mid-20th century. The final block associated with the plant is a one-story, 12’ x 16’ wood frame storage building located at the southeast corner of the plant. This was erected ca. 1920 and has a shed roof.

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick
• Wood

Structural System(s)

• Load Bearing Masonry
• Wood Frame

Roof Form

• Flat
• Gable
• Shed

Roof Material

• Asphalt

Power Source

• Electricity
• Steam

Condition

Fair

Condition Notes

The complex is in fair condition. Although the plant has non-original aluminum siding it appears to be well maintained and retains the majority of its original windows.

Specific Location

One legal parcel (275 East Avenue) totaling 0.21 acres located on the east side of East Avenue, roughly 350’ southwest of East Avenue’s intersection with Cottage Street.

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 3/42/24/0. / Link →

Acreage

0.21

Use (Present)

• Industrial
• Mixed-Use

Form Completed By

n/a

Date

n/a

Bibliography

n/a