Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Charles and Hiram Yales 1815-1835
• Charles Parker Co. 1848-

Use (Historic)

• Consumer Products, Small Appliances
• Fabricated Metal Products
• Paper & Wood Products

Largest Documented Workforce

60 (1860)

Historic Narrative

Charles Parker built this factory on the Quinnipiac River in 1858, but tableware manufacture began here with Charles and Hiram Yale in 1815. The Yales made pots and spoons of Britannia. This alloy of tin, copper and antimony competed directly with pewter (an alloy of tin and lead primarily) as a material for flat and hollow ware; Britannia was harder and took a higher polish. The Yales made tableware until 1835, after which several different manufacturers used the shop until Parker bought it in 1848. Parker, from nearby Meriden, had produced various hardware items, such as coffee mills, spectacles, tobacco boxes and tableware, since 1832. At first he used the Yalesville mill for spoon production. In 1860 his 60 employees made nearly 3.8 million tablespoons and teaspoons from Britannia and over 260,000 teaspoons from German silver. By 1870 this shop was mostly used for making the wood bodies of coffee mills and wood packing crates, though some spoon production continued. The extant factory was built in 1858 after the Yales' mill had burned. (Roth)

Number of Existing Buildings

Two (2) primary blocks with additions.

Dates of Construction

1858

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Mill

Architectural Description

Parker's factory originally had two stories but another two were later added. The brick factory, 132' x 32', has a near-flat roof and corbeled cornice. Window openings are segmentally arched and have stone sills. Attached is a 90' x 30' addition with 41' x 30' ell. The 1845 dam is the earliest structure here. It is a 9'-high curved gravity dam made of brownstone blocks. The short headrace has been paved over. (Roth)

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick

Structural System(s)

n/a

Roof Form

• Flat

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

n/a

Condition Notes

n/a

Specific Location

NWC Church and Main Streets

Adjacent To

• Water (for Power)

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

n/a

Acreage

n/a

Use (Present)

• Commercial

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).