Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• George Thomas & Sons Co. 1974-ca. 2000
• Grosvenor-Dale Co. Dairy Barn and Stable ca. 1872-ca. 1950

Use (Historic)

• Textiles

Largest Documented Workforce

Unknown.

Historic Narrative

The earliest portions of this facility were erected around 1872 by the Grosvenor-Dale Company, which operated several substantial cotton textile mills in the section of Thompson that eventually became known as Grosvenordale. Foremost among these was the company’s Mill #2, this erected along the French River in 1872 and then expanded ca. 1900, by which time the mill employed 1,750 hands. The facility at 1020 Riverside Drive is located 0.3-mile north of the Grosvenor-Dale Company’s Mill #2 and was originally erected as a barn and stable. It housed draft horses and dairy cattle maintained by the firm, the former used to move product and materials around the mill facility and to and from the railroad depot, and the latter to produce milk that was distributed to the mill’s employees. The company maintained this use until the early 1930s, when the building was converted for use as a Community House, which hosted banquets, dances, and other entertainment. A bowling alley was also installed in the building for use by company employees. The Grosvenor-Dale Company ceased operations in 1942 and the mill was acquired by the firm of Cluett, Peabody and Company, which maintained production until the mid-1950s. It is unclear how the Community House was used during or immediately after this period, however, in 1974 it was converted for industrial use by the firm of George Thomas and Sons, which produced woolen textiles. Disaster struck the business in 1987 when one of the co-owners, Paul G. Thomas, fell into a pin-wheel dresser machine and was killed after being wrapped in 800 yards of yarn. The business weathered the tragedy and remained in operation until ca. 2000. The facility has since been converted for use as a commercial building occupied by a variety of small tenants.

Number of Existing Buildings

Roughly five (5) adjoining primary blocks.

Dates of Construction

ca. 1872, ca. 1974.

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Mill
• Warehouse / Production Shed

Architectural Description

The Grosvenor-Dale Company’s barn and stable is comprised of roughly five adjoining primary blocks located on the west side of Riverside Drive, roughly 400’ north of Riverside Drive’s intersection with Buckley Hill Road. The three original blocks are all of wood-frame construction and were built ca. 1872. They consist of a one-and-a-half-story, 75’ x 40’ barn; a one-story, 44’ x 145’ dairy barn; and a one-story, 25’ x 46’ barn (this may possibly have been built as a bull or calving shed). All three blocks stand on stone foundations and have wood shingle siding and double-hung windows. The one-and-a-half-story barn has a side-gabled roof, while the larger of the two one-story blocks has a full-length clerestory monitor. The small one-story block has a shed roof. A pair of one-story concrete block additions were erected on the south side of the facility ca. 1974. These measure 90’ x 54’ and 24’ x 52’ and have flat and shed roof’s respectively. Both blocks have small rectangular window openings with concrete sills and replacement double-hung and sliding sash. A small pass-through door is located on the south elevation of the 24’ x 52’ block.

Exterior Material(s)

• Concrete Block
• Wood

Structural System(s)

• Load Bearing Masonry
• Wood Frame

Roof Form

• Flat
• Gable
• Monitor
• Shed

Roof Material

• Asphalt

Power Source

• Electricity

Condition

Fair

Condition Notes

The complex is in fair condition. Portions of the mill have recently been rehabilitated and all are structurally sound.

Specific Location

One 1.48-acre parcel (1020 Riverside Drive) located on the west side of Riverside Drive, roughly 400’ north of Riverside Drive’s intersection with Buckley Hill Road.

Adjacent To

• Main Roads

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 167/88/15 / Link →

Acreage

1.48

Use (Present)

• Commercial

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, 1897, 1903, 1912, 1925, 1936.
8. Aerial Survey of Connecticut, 1934, 1951, 1965, 1970, 1985.
9. Map of Windham County, E.M. Woodford, 1855.
10. Atlas of Windham County, O.W. Gray, 1869.
11. A History of Windham County, Connecticut; Bayles, Richard M., ed., 1889.
12. A Modern History of Windham County, Connecticut; Lincoln, Allen B., 1920.