Mill Record Glastonbury
RETURN TO ‘FIND MILLS’Disclaimer: Content for these properties was compiled in 2014-2017 from a variety of sources and is subject to change. Updates are occasionally made under Property Information, however the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation (dba Preservation Connecticut) makes no representation or warranty that the information is complete or up-to-date.
- Complex Name (Common)
- Harriman Motors Co.
- Complex Name (Historic)
-
- Harriman Motors Co.
- Address or Location
- 1123 Main Street, South Glastonbury, Glastonbury
- County
- Hartford
- Historic Designation
- Associated Mill Community
- n/a
- Historic Information
Companies Associated w/Complex
- Harriman Motors Co. 1912-1921
Use (Historic)
Largest Documented Workforce
n/a
Historic Narrative
Frank Harriman moved his marine-engine business from Hartford to a former cooper shop on this site in 1907. In 1909 he designed and built an aircraft engine, then built several aircraft and started a flying school. Harriman Motors Co., Connecticut's first aircraft-engine manufacturing firm, incorporated in 1912, and the next year built a new shop and foundry. Harriman made 30-horsepower and 50-horsepower (both 4-cylinder) and 100-horsepower (6-cylinder) in-line engines with early application of several important features: overhead cam system, removable valve cages, and silver-plated crankshaft bearings. Only 100 or so engines were made before 1921 when Harriman went bankrupt. Since then a series of light industries has occupied the buildings. (Roth)
- Architectural Information
Number of Existing Buildings
Two (2) blocks.
Dates of Construction
1912-1913
Architect
n/a
Builder
n/a
Building Type
Architectural Description
The 1- story, 40' x 60' reinforced concrete shop originally had a gable roof, which was replaced with a flat roof in 1955. The coarse concrete is extremely tough, as it was made with feldspar rather than the more commonly used trap rock. The walls and shed roof of the 2-story foundry (39' x 23') were also made of this concrete. Railway T-rails were used for rafters and for reinforcing the concrete roof-slabs.(Roth)
Exterior Material(s)
Structural System(s)
Roof Form
Roof Material
n/a
Power Source
n/a
Condition
Fair
Condition Notes
The foundry no longer stands.
- Property Information
-
Specific Location
One 0.4 acre parcel on the west side of Main Street south of intersection with Chestnut Hill Road
Adjacent To
n/a
Exterior Visible from Public Road?
Yes
Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link
- 12158 (for record, use link and type in address or parcel number) / Link →
Acreage
0.4
Use (Present)
- Sources
-
Form Completed By
n/a
Date
n/a
Bibliography
- Roth, Matthew, et al, Connecticut: An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites (Washington DC: SIA, 1981).
- Representative View(s)Click on image to view full file
-
Photographer
n/a
Photography Date
n/a
