Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Atlas Hobbing & Tool Co. late-20th c.-Present (2016)
• E.J. Martin’s Sons Co. 1916- 1919
• Horton Mfg. Co. 1919-ca. 1960

Use (Historic)

• Machine Tools, Machinery
• Textiles

Largest Documented Workforce

25 (1911).

Historic Narrative

The E.J. Martin’s Sons Company was originally established by Rockville, Connecticut resident Elisha J. Martin in 1882. Martin was a former silk mill worker and he used this experience in organizing a small operation producing braided silk eyeglass cords. Also an avid fisherman, Martin was struck by the idea of using braided silk fishing lines, which might allow for a strong yet flexible medium. He produced a few prototypes for himself and his friends and all were thoroughly impressed with how the product performed. Martin shifted his efforts towards the manufacture of silk fishing line and rented a small shop in the Belding Brothers and Company silk mill on East Main Street in Rockville. By 1896, Martin’s business had grown to such a degree that an independent factory was needed and this was soon erected on Mountain Street in Rockville. Elisha J. Martin died in 1899, however, control of the business was assumed by his son, A.L. Martin, who reorganized the firm as the E.J. Martin’s Sons Company. The popularity of the buisiness’s products expanded significantly during the first decade of the 20th century and by 1911 the firm was noted as being the leading producer of silk fishing line in the country, this largely driven by its popular ‘Kingfisher’ brand of line. The Mountain Street mill was expanded several times during this period and by 1911 the wood-frame structure stood two stories tall and measured 30’ x 200’. It housed 600 braiding machines operated by 25 employees. Tragedy struck the business in May 1916 when the entirety of the E.J. Martin’s Sons Company mill was consumed by fire. Remarkably, the plant was the first in Rockville’s history to be completely destroyed by fire, however, this likely did little to lighten the impact of the $75,000 worth of damage incurred at a time that the business was flooded with orders and in possession of some $25,000 worth of raw materials. Regardless of the setback, management of the E.J. Martin’s Sons Company moved quickly to rebuild the plant and resume production. This was accomplished by November 1916, when the new three-story, 56’ x 116’ wood-frame plant was completed. The building was designed by local architect J. Henry McRay and constructed by builder Frank L. Hutchinson. The E.J. Martin’s Sons Company continued to operate until 1919, when the business was acquired by the Horton Manufacturing Company of Bristol, Connecticut. The Horton Manufacturing Company was established in 1886 and is notable for being the first firm to manufacture a viable steel fishing rod. The company also began manufacturing reels in 1916 so its acquisition of the E.J. Martin’s Sons Company fishing line business appears quite logical. A.L. Martin stayed on as manager of the branch and its capital was increased from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000. The Horton Manufacturing Company continued to operate the Rockville mill through the Second World War and the firm made significant contributions to the war effort after dedicating all efforts to the production of parachute cord. The company transitioned seamlessly back to the manufacture of fishing line in the post-war period and continued to turn out Kingfisher brand silk line into the 1950s. By this time, however, nylon line technology had advanced to such a state so as to increasingly supplant more expensive silk products. The Rockville mill was eventually closed by the Horton Manufacturing Company during the late-1950s.

Number of Existing Buildings

Four (4) adjoining primary blocks.

Dates of Construction

1916, 1945, 1978.

Architect

J. Henry McRay, Vernon

Builder

Frank L. Hutchinson

Building Type

• Mill
• Warehouse / Production Shed

Architectural Description

The former E.J. Martin’s Sons Company plant is comprised of four adjoining primary blocks located on the east side of Mountain Street, approximately 125’ south of Mountain Street’s intersection with Webster Street. The original sections of the mill were erected in 1916. These consist of a three-story, 56’ x 116’ wood-frame manufacturing block, which has a two-story, 48’ x 23’ wood-frame boiler house adjoining its east (rear) elevation. The both the manufacturing building and boiler plant have a concrete foundation, rectangular window openings with nine-over-nine double-hung wood sash (most are boarded over), wood shingle exterior, and low-pitch front-facing gable roofs. A three-story wood-frame stair tower is located at the northwest corner of the mill. This has a pass-through door centered on the ground floor of its west (front) elevation, and loading doors on the floors above. A hoist beam projects from the uppermost story just below its low-pitch front-facing gable roof. A one-story, 32’ z 12’ shipping block was erected adjoining the mill’s west elevation in 1945. This has a concrete foundation, wood shingle walls, and a shed roof. A single loading bay with a roll-up style door is centered on the west elevation. The final addition to the plant was built in 1978. It is a two-story, 40’ x 100 concrete block manufacturing ell adjoining the original mill’s south elevation. The addition has a concrete foundation, aluminum siding, and a shed roof. Loading bays are located on its west and south elevations. Both have metal roll-up style doors, however, the southern bay is notable for being located in a triangular recess set back roughly 10’ from the exterior wall of the block.

Exterior Material(s)

• Aluminum Siding or Paneling
• Wood

Structural System(s)

• Load Bearing Masonry
• Structural Steel or Iron

Roof Form

• Gable
• Shed

Roof Material

• Asphalt
• Metal

Power Source

• Electricity
• Steam

Condition

Fair

Condition Notes

The complex is in fair condition. Although a number of windows throughout the plant have been replaced with modern units, the entirety of the facility appears to be well maintained.

Specific Location

One 1.15-acre parcel (20 Mountain Street) located on the east side of Mountain Street, approximately 125’ south of Mountain Street’s intersection with Webster Street.


Located in the City of Rockville Historic District (1984).
http://npgallery.nps.gov/nrhp/GetAsset?assetID=dbc02af8-eea0-4694-92fb-72190cecb3a7

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 41/0113/00015. / Link →

Acreage

1.15

Use (Present)

• Industrial

Form Completed By

Lucas A. Karmazinas

Date

01/11/2016

Bibliography

1. List of Connecticut Manufacturers, 1922, 1924, 1930, 1932.
2. Directory of Connecticut State Manufacturers, 1936, 1939.
3. Industrial Directory of Connecticut, 1947.
4. Register of War Production Facilities in Connecticut, 1951.
5. Map of Tolland County, Wm. C. Eaton & H.C. Osborn, 1857.
6. Atlas of Tolland County, O.W. Gray, 1869.
7. Sanborn Map Company, 1885, 1892, 1897, 1903, 1911, 1921, 1946.
8. Aerial Survey of Connecticut, 1934, 1951, 1965, 1970, 1985.
9. Hartford Courant, 1916, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1950.
10. A Century of Vernon, Connecticut, 1808-1908; Smith, Harry Conklin, 1911.