Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• American Velvet Co. 1891-1996
• Wimpfeimer and Bros. 1880s-1891

Use (Historic)

• Textiles

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

In the 1880s, a velvet trade company called A. Wimpfeimer and Bros. began to produce and dye velvet fabrics in Astoria, New York. In 1891, the firm reached an agreement with the town of Stonington, whereby it would move there if a factory were built for it. The first sections of the Stonington plant were constructed about that time. Velvet produced by the company was used in a variety of applications, but most notable uses were for clothing, jewelry boxes, displays and coffin linings. The company remained strong until the 1990s and retained nearly 200 workers. It was reported by the New York Times in 1996 to be one of only two operating velvet mills in active production in the United States. In 1996, with mounting competition from overseas and southern manufactures, the president of the American Velvet Company, Jacques Wimpfeimer (the firm remained under family control) announced that the operation would be removed to Virginia within two years. At the time it was estimated that personnel cost alone was nearly twenty percent lower in Virginia than in Connecticut. Since the closing of the American Velvet Company, the buildings have been undergoing a transition into flexible and creative space that is planned to be used by artists and small businesses.

Number of Existing Buildings

Roughly nine (9) blocks.

Dates of Construction

c.1891, c.1895, c.1905, c.1910, c.1920

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

n/a

Architectural Description

The westernmost building served as a store house. The southern section, which is two-stories, constructed of brick and has a slightly gabled roof, was constructed between 1901 and 1907. To the north, a five sided, two-story brick addition was added between 1912 and 1925. The storage buildings are attached to another two-story brick building with a flat roof to the east. The southern half of the building is perhaps the oldest section in the complex, constructed between 1891 and 1895. This brick-pier building served as the company office and sizing/finishing room. This building was extended to north with another brick, two-story addition built between 1895 and 1901 to accommodate growing operations. To the east of the 1895-1901 (northern) section is a one-story brick sawtooth building that was building between 1895 and 1901 as a finishing room. To the south is an older sawtooth, brick building constructed between 1891 and 1895. A sawtooth addition that was constructed for winding and weaving operations extends to the east and was constructed between 1895 and 1901. At an unknown time, a portion of the building’s sawtooth roof was removed, and a second, flat-roof story was added to a portion of the building. The flat roof continues to the north, to an addition that was built after 1943. The easternmost section of the building was also built for weaving operations. It is a one-story, brick sawtooth building that was constructed between 1907 and 1912. To the north is another post-1943 addition.

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick
• Steel

Structural System(s)

• Post and Beam
• Structural Steel or Iron

Roof Form

• Flat
• Gable
• Sawtooth

Roof Material

• Asphalt

Power Source

• Electricity
• Steam

Condition

Good, Fair, Deteriorated

Condition Notes

n/a

Specific Location

NWC of Bayview and Meadow Avenues

Located in Stonington Borough National Historic District (1979).
http://npgallery.nps.gov/nrhp/GetAsset?assetID=fce98cc8-d081-4b4f-99e9-12e1a18604b9

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 79-14-5 / Link →

Acreage

11.74

Use (Present)

• Commercial
• Mixed-Use

Form Completed By

Mike Forino

Date

n/a

Bibliography

1. 1947 Industrial Directory of Connecticut.
2. The Hartford Courant, 1891-1978.
3. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1895-1943.