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100-199 (1939).
This plant was originally constructed by the New York, New York-based textile manufacturer Boese, Peppard and Company between 1904 and 1905. Boese, Peppard and Company was organized in 1883 as a partnership between Edwin Boese, John A. Peppard, and Arnold Roos, and the firm specialized in the production of lace and other novelty items such as embroidered handkerchiefs. The company relocated its manufacturing plant to South Norwalk in 1905, where it initially employed 51 hands. In 1908, Boese and Peppard bought out their partner and the firm was reorganized as the Boese and Peppard Company. This entity lasted until 1912, when the two partners divided the company and established the Peppard Embroidery Works and Edwin Boese and Company, respectively. The two businesses continued the share the Merritt Place factory, however, it appears that the former partnership had gone sour. By 1919, the Peppard Embroidery Works had vacated the plant and been replaced by the Higley Machine Company, a New York, New York-based manufacturer of saws and grinding tools. Around 1920, the Higley Machine Company assumed full control of the factory after Edwin Boese and Company moved to a new plant (since demolished) at what is now 46 Chestnut Street. The Higley Machine Company remained in Norwalk until around 1930, after which plant passed to the Mayer Handbag Company. The Mayer Handbag Company was founded in 1936 by Harry S. Mayer of Norwalk, who moved the company from Haviland Street to Merritt Place around 1939. Mayer Handbag was joined in the factory by the Malkin Plastics Company by 1950, however, both firms had vacated the plant by 1958. It was then acquired by the Samson Knitting Company, which remained in business until 1970. The plant remained vacant for much of the 1970s and has since been owned by a variety of short-term occupants or developers.
Four (4) adjoining primary blocks.
1905, ca. 1930, ca. 1940.
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The former Boese, Peppard and Company plant is comprised of four primary adjoining blocks located on the south side of Merritt Place, at the southwest corner of Merritt Place’s intersection with Chestnut Street. The factory’s main manufacturing building is a two-story, 68’ x 123’ red brick block erected between 1904 and 1905. The building is of brick pier construction and has full-height window bays with corbelled brick headers, segmental arched window openings with stone sills, multipane metal windows with pivot-style openings, a corbelled brick cornice, and a flat roof. A single pyramidal skylight is centered on the building’s roof and extends nearly the full length of the block. Two door openings on the eight-bay façade (east elevation) provide access to the building. These have paneled wood surrounds with 14-light and paneled wood transoms. A one-story, 20’ x 68’ red brick boiler house and storage building adjoins the west elevation of the main manufacturing block. This was erected as part of the original mill and is identical in detailing to the main block. A one-story, 18’ x 68’ concrete block addition was built adjoining the accessory block’s west elevation ca. 1930. This is of a utilitarian design and has rectangular window openings, a concrete block parapet, and a flat roof. The final block associated with the plant was erected at the eastern end of the north elevation ca. 1940. This consists of a one-story, 13’ x 35’ red brick shipping ell. The block has rectangular window openings with multipane metal sash and pivot-style openings, and a flat roof. A single loading bay with a roll-up style door is located on its west (rear) elevation.
Fair
The complex is in fair condition. Although the exterior walls appear structurally sound, the windows throughout the plant are either missing, boarded over, or heavily deteriorated.
One legal parcel (2 Merritt Place) totaling 0.55 acres located on the south side of Merritt Place, at the southwest corner of Merritt Place’s intersection with Chestnut Street.
Individually listed on the State Register of Historic Places.
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Yes
0.55
Lucas A. Karmazinas
11/06/2015