Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Greist Mfg. Co. c.1928-1945
• New Haven Manufacturing Co. c.2003

Use (Historic)

• Clocks, Precision Equipment
• Consumer Products, Small Appliances
• Electrical Equipment
• Firearms, Weapons, Explosives

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

Eclectic lamps/sewing machine attachments/Naval ordnance/air and signal corps/devices From Westville Village Historic District nomination form: The Greist brothers briefly owned a bicycle shop in downtown New Haven before forming the Greist Manufacturing Company in 1894, with Ebenezer Beecher as the company's first president. The company set up shop across the street from Geometric Tool and manufactured sewing machine attachments and 'other mechanical specialties.' Early in the twentieth century, the company built a complex of industrial structures that are still standing and now are occupied by the New Haven Manufacturing Company.

Number of Existing Buildings

n/a

Dates of Construction

1906, 1909; 1948 expansion demo'd

Architect

Leo F. Caproni (now demo'd 1948 expansion)

Builder

n/a

Building Type

n/a

Architectural Description

From Westville Village Historic District nomination form (2003): This complex of early twentieth-century industrial structures was built between 1906 and 1948. The Colonial Revival main industrial building is a 2-story, brick structure with a flat roof, segmental and semicircular window headers and door openings, and a projecting cornice with modillions. Other later twentieth-century wings have been added to the east elevations. From Gregg Batemen, architectural researcher (2018): The sketch from 1948 (from the Edward Logue archives at Yale, Series V, Box 38, “Caproni” folder) shows what the overall plan was for rebuilding the entire factory complex. The work was to be done in sections over the course of several years so as not to disrupt production. Unfortunately, the ultra-modern looking office part was never built. The Caproni parts of this complex were all knocked down to make room for the Westville Village Apartments.

Exterior Material(s)

n/a

Structural System(s)

n/a

Roof Form

n/a

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

n/a

Condition Notes

n/a

Specific Location

On West River, Northeast end of Blake St.

Located in Westville Village National Historic District (2002).
http://npgallery.nps.gov/nrhp/GetAsset?assetID=217dd5ca-86ab-4b18-a363-6ba0cfa49310

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 372/1159/101 / Link →

Acreage

1.88

Use (Present)

• Mixed-Use

Form Completed By

n/a

Date

n/a

Bibliography

1. Dunne, Mary. 2002. Westville Village Historic District National Register Nomination No. 02001727. National Park Service.
2. Information, historic photographs and sources for Leo Caproni courtesy Gregg Bateman (2018).