Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Bailey Machine Mfg. Co. 1887-c.1900
• Gra-Rock Co. c.1925-at least 1958
• National Machine Co. c.1900-c.1925

Use (Historic)

• Food, Beverage, Tobacco
• Machine Tools, Machinery

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

The Bailey Manufacturing Co. was established in Hartford (date unknown, possibly c.1880), and moved to Wethersfield in 1887. By 1896, the firm had an office in New York City, one in Hartford and the factory in Wethersfield, and advertised its patented letter copying machine and copying pads. Leonard Bailey was assigned several patents: the first in 1882 for copying presses, one in 1888 for printing ink, two in 1896 for a book lettering and embossing press and a ‘type-writing machine.’ Leonard Bailey (1825-1905) was a prominent tool designer specializing in cast-iron planes and spokeshaves, for which he obtained many patents from 1855 to 1886. He ran Bailey Chaney and Co. in the Boston area from c.1861 to 1869 when he sold the firm and the manufacture rights for his patents to Stanley Rule and Level Co. In 1875 he terminated his contract with Stanley, and brought several patent infringement suits against the firm which he did not win. It was after this that he seems to have largely turned his attention from tools to copying presses. The National Machine Co. manufactured printing presses and paper box machines in the factory after Bailey. By 1930, Gra-Rock Co., a ginger ale bottling company, had moved to the facility from Canton, Connecticut, where it remained until at least 1958.

Number of Existing Buildings

Four (4) blocks.

Dates of Construction

c.1886; c.1920; post 1947

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Mill

Architectural Description

The three story brick factory, built c. 1886, has segmentally arched windows, a hip roof with projecting gables over third story palladian windows on the east elevation, and three levels of loading bay doors on the south side. The door to the office block is ornamented with an open pediment and half columns. The single story brick foundry to the north and stock room to the west had been built by 1922; the westernmost single story brick addition is after 1947.

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick

Structural System(s)

n/a

Roof Form

• Flat
• Hip Minor

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

n/a

Condition Notes

A fire in 1952 did not totally destroy the factory, however there was some rebuilding, as evidenced in the brickwork on the front facade.

Specific Location

One 0.88 acre parcel on the south side of Church Street on west side of railroad

Adjacent To

• Railroad

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 222/047 / Link →

Acreage

0.88

Use (Present)

• Commercial
• Other: Purchase in 2021 by Jay Maffe; to be redeveloped into commercial kitchen to make dough and support Square Peg pizza restaurants; part to become retail Square Peg and brewery venue

Form Completed By

Renée Tribert

Date

March 2016

Bibliography

1. Sanborn Insurance Atlases.
2. Geer's Hartford City Directory, 1896.
3. Special Acts and Resolutions of the State of Connecticut, Vol. X (Hartford: Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1890).
4. Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the Year 1896 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1897).