Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• D. E. Whiton Machine Co. pre 1884 - c.

Use (Historic)

• Fabricated Metal Products
• Machine Tools, Machinery

Largest Documented Workforce

200 c.1922

Historic Narrative

D. E. Whiton Machine Co. was established c.1856 by David E. Whiton, a Stafford CT native. He obtained a patent for a centering machine for machine shops, making them in Stafford. He added lathe chucks to the company's production in 1865 when he purchased the business of John E. Washburn. His son joined the company in 1881, and in 1882 a branch facility was opened in New London in a building fronting Hamilton Street. (Note: after Whiton built its own complex, the branch facility was occupied by Hobson & Chapin Mfg., later part of Pequot Foundry & Machine Works). By 1887, the company was incorporated as the D. E. Whiton Machine Co, and operations were consolidated in a new facility in New London, immediately south, between then Oak Street and Walbach Street. Whiton made lathe and drill chucks, centering machines, and gear cutters. The company operated at the southern parcel through at the 1960s, expanding the complex over the years. It employed 50 in the late 1880s, 100 c.1905 and as many as 200 in the 1920s. Between 1912 and 1921 (perhaps as part of WWI demand growth), the machine shop building that remains today was built to the north of the main facility. The main complex was demolished in the third quarter of the 20th century.

Number of Existing Buildings

One extant

Dates of Construction

c.1917

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Loft

Architectural Description

A two story timber frame machine shop with attached brick boiler house built between 1912 and 1921 (perhaps for WWI production) and wood frame storage addition built between 1921 and 1951.

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick
• Wood

Structural System(s)

• Post and Beam

Roof Form

• Gable

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

• Coal

Condition

Fair

Condition Notes

n/a

Specific Location

At the rear (southeast corner) of the lot identified as 77 Hamilton Street, south of Hamilton Street, east of Howard Street and west of the railroad tracks.

Adjacent To

• Railroad

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

No

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• F15/ 107/ 3 / Link →

Acreage

Part of larger 1.76 acre parcel

Use (Present)

• Other: Possible clean-up for reuse c.1/2019
• Vacant

Form Completed By

n/a

Date

2/2019

Bibliography

1. D. E. Whiton Machine Co. entry, Vintage Machinery website