Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Billings and Spencer Co.

Use (Historic)

• Fabricated Metal Products
• Machine Tools, Machinery

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

Manufacturers of Bicycle Forging/Tool and Machine - see Frog Hollow Historic District Nomination. Charles Billings and Christopher Spencer established their firm in 1869. Both had apprenticed at leading metalworking shops, Billings at Robbins and Lawrence in Windsor, VT, and Spencer at the machine shop for Cheney Brothers silk mills (separate entry), and both had worked at Colt's Armory before forming their own company. The two principals collaborated on the development of the board-drop hammer, an elaboration of die-forging as practiced at Colt. Spencer left the firm in 1874 to refine his automatic screw machine and form Hartford Machine Screw Co. Billings continued to run Billings and Spencer, which came to specialize in forged mechanic's hand tools. By 1920 Billings and Spencer had moved to new facilities (demolished) and Hartford Automotive Parts Co. occupied this plant. After several years Hart and Hegeman moved here. This firm, established in 1890, made an early version of the enclosed light switch for household use; by the time it moved here Hart and Hegeman made an extensive line of electrical hardware, such as relays and junction boxes. (Roth)

Number of Existing Buildings

n/a

Dates of Construction

c.1892, c. 1900, 1906

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Mill

Architectural Description

The company began building this complex in 1892. Prominent 1890s structures include the brick-pier factory that consists of two 225' x 45' sections meeting at right angles. Both wings were 2-story originally, and later each gained a floor. Both feature segmentally arched windows with stone sills on the first two levels; the top story windows of the section along Lawrence St. duplicate the lower ones, while the section along Russ St. features flat-arched windows with steel shelf angles. An office block with tower, built in 1906, joins the two wings. The plant also includes a c.1900 1-story brick factory, about 235' x 45' with gable roof, and a slightly later 2-story brick-pier factory, about 240' x 55' with a flat roof topped by a monitor. (Roth)

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick

Structural System(s)

• Load Bearing Masonry

Roof Form

• Gable
• Monitor

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

Good

Condition Notes

n/a

Specific Location

210-220 Lawrence St. - South of Rt 84, between Russ St and Capitol Ave. Located in the Frog Hollow National Register Historic District (1979).

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 203/428/200 (for record, use link and type in address or parcel number) / Link →

Acreage

2.71

Use (Present)

• Commercial
• Residential

Form Completed By

n/a

Date

n/a

Bibliography

1. Roth, Matthew, et al, Connecticut: An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites (Washington DC: SIA, 1981).
2. Ransom, David F. and Merle E. Kummer. 1979. Frog Hollow Historic District National Register Nomination No. 79002635. National Park Service.