Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Bristol Manufacturing Company 1902-c.1940
• Plainville Bristol Manufacturing Company 1850-1902

Use (Historic)

• Textiles

Largest Documented Workforce

200 (1892)

Historic Narrative

The Plainville Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1850 by Harmanus M. Welch, a New Haven industrialist. The company mainly produced women’s and children’s knit undergarments from wool, cotton and mixed fabrics. By 1892, the company had become one of Plainville’s largest manufacturers, with approximately 200 employees and an annual production of 70,000 garments. In March of 1902, the mill was bought by the Bristol Manufacturing Company, a knitting company established in 1837. The Bristol Manufacturing Company continued similar operations, producing a type of material known as stockinet, a delicate knitted fabric used in undergarments. By 1920, the company experienced financial difficulties and closed the Plainville mill; it reopened for a year in 1922, before permanently closing. Wool underwear at that time was rapidly being replaced by lighter materials, making the once highly demanded knit-wear an unwanted commodity. The buildings remained vacant throughout the Great Depression and by 1942, a majority of the complex had been demolished for parking. The last standing building, at the western end of the complex, became a warehouse for the Plainville Lumber and Coal Company in c.1940. Today the building is used for offices.

Number of Existing Buildings

Two (2) blocks.

Dates of Construction

c.1880 with 1900 addition

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Warehouse / Production Shed

Architectural Description

The only remaining structure from the complex is an L-shaped building on the corner. Constructed as a one-story, brick-pier store house with gable roof c.1880, it was extended northward with an addition by 1900. A small modern addition is located on the southeast side.

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick

Structural System(s)

• Post and Beam

Roof Form

• Gable

Roof Material

• Asphalt

Power Source

• Steam

Condition

Good, Fair, Deteriorated

Condition Notes

n/a

Specific Location

One 0.042 acre parcel at the corner of Pierce Street and West Main Street.

Adjacent To

• Main Roads
• Railroad

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 28-D-08 / Link →

Acreage

0.042

Use (Present)

• Commercial

Form Completed By

Michael Forino

Date

August 2014

Bibliography

1. 1947 Industrial Directory of Connecticut.
2. The Hartford Courant, 1892-1923.
3. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1884- 1942.