Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Aldrich Brothers Co. c.1920
• Kaman Corp. c.2000
• Majestic Metal Specialties c.1945
• Union Mills

Use (Historic)

• Textiles
• Transportation

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

Union Mills: Cotton Aldrich Bros: cotton Majestic Metals: aircraft parts, navy floats This site was developed by Providence textile interests early in the 19th century, but the earliest standing parts of Union Mills were built around 1880 by Aldrich and Gray, cotton manufacturers. At peak operation, in 1910-15, Union Mills employed 650 workers to run 48,500 spindles and 1,475 looms making cotton print goods. The mills closed in 1935 and were sold to General Cotton Supply Co. of Fall River, MA, which never ran them. Equipment was stipped and resold to textile manufacturers in the South and in Japen. A metals warehousing firm operated here from 1939 to 1958, when the present occupant, an aerospace equipment manufacturer, bought the mills. There are some 80 mill houses in the village of Moosup. Most are frame duplexes, but on Union St. there are four 1 1/2-story rubble-masonry duplexes that were probably erected by one of the pre-1880 manufacturers. (Roth)

Number of Existing Buildings

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Dates of Construction

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Architect

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Builder

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Building Type

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Architectural Description

The main mill has random-coursed masonry walls with lintels, silIs and quoins of dressed granite. The northside stair tower retains its original pyramidal roof; the south tower roof has been removed. In the l890s the mill was extended by 100' to make it 380' x 50'; a fourth story with brick walls was added and the present, near-flat roof was installed. The c.1880 picker house, 3-story awl about 50' x 40' with random-coursed walls and granite trim, remains essentially unchanged. In the first decade of the 20th century the mill gained a 4-story brick-pier wing, about 250' x 60'. A brick, sawtooth-roofed weave shed, at least SOD' x 80', was built c.19l0 northeast of the mill. The power canal, which runs between mill and weave shed, is extant. (Roth)

Exterior Material(s)

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Structural System(s)

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Roof Form

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Roof Material

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Power Source

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Condition

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Condition Notes

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Specific Location

formerly Union Street

Adjacent To

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Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 1M/96/1 / Link →

Acreage

17.1

Use (Present)

• Other: c.1910 weave shed demo'd 2015 DECD awarded $200k brownfield grant for additional assessment 6/2021 to ECLB.
• Vacant

Form Completed By

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Date

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Bibliography

1. Roth, Matthew, et al, Connecticut: An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites (Washington DC: SIA, 1981).