Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Eastern Wood Products Co. c.1937-1969
• Interroyal 1970-1986
• Lawton Mills 1904-c.1935
• National Mfg. Co. c.1937-1969
• Royal Robes Inc. c.1937-1969

Use (Historic)

• Apparel & Accessories
• Firearms, Weapons, Explosives
• Paper & Wood Products
• Textiles

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

Lawton Mills: cotton Eastern Wood Products: furniture National Mfg. Co: rocket ammunition boxes Royal Robes: smoking jackets Interroyal: wood and metal furniture Harold Lawton, born in 1852 in Yorkshire, England, emigrated to Rhode Island in 1872. He worked as overseer in several Rhode Island and Connecticut cotton mills before serving as superintendent of Baltic Mill [Sprague] from 1901 to 1905. In 1905 he bought land along the (former) Norwich and Worcester Railroad in Plainfield for a new venture: a steam-powered mill to produce fine combed-cotton goods. Lockwood, Greene and Co. of Boston designed the buildings. In 1911 Lawton again engaged Lockwood, Greene and Co. to design new buildings that more than doubled the size of the plant. The mill contained 130,000 spindles and employed 1,200 workers. The company built 125 two-family houses for workers and 15 houses for supervisors; most of these dwellings survive. In 1936 the company proposed a cut in wages, prompting a strike. Despite the personal intervention of Governor Wilbur Cross, including a promise of financial assistance from the state, the shareholders liquidated the company for 28 cents on the dollar. The purchaser was General Cotton Supply Co. of Fall River, MA, which proceeded to sell all the equipment. The stricken town organized the Plainfield Corporation to rent space in the buildings. By 1940 they were occupied. Two firms now share the mills. (Roth)

Number of Existing Buildings

n/a

Dates of Construction

1905, 1911

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

n/a

Architectural Description

The spinning mill, 3-story and 225' x 100', has a near-flat roof and segmentally arched windows with stone sills. Attached to its south end is a I-story brick weave shed, 200' x 150' with sawtooth roof. Storehouses, picker house and boiler house stand to the east. A Cooper cross-compound, 1,200 horsepower engine powered the works. In 1911, the spinning mill was extended 180' to the north and piers were added at every fifth bay. The weave shed was extended 200' to the south. Then a second mill and weave shed, duplicating the dimensions of the expanded buildings, were added to the south with the weave sheds joined together. The entire structure was then over 1,600' in length. (Roth) The northern mill, on the 20 Reservoir Street lot, is largely demolished (fire and neglect) except for the research & development building at the very north end near Railroad Ave.

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick

Structural System(s)

n/a

Roof Form

• Flat
• Sawtooth

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

n/a

Condition Notes

Northern brick mill building on 20 Reservoir Street parcel burned down in 2005

Specific Location

Two now separate parcels: the northern 16.8 acre parcel with weaving sheds is 20 Reservoir Street, and the southern 21 acre parcel with extant brick mill building is 76 Community Avenue.


Located in Lawton Mills Historic District (1996).
http://npgallery.nps.gov/nrhp/GetAsset?assetID=7d880a0b-ecf6-4f66-9486-5f2dd897088c

Adjacent To

• Water (for Power)
• Railroad

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 02P-030A-0003 (76 Community Ave, south end) / Link →
• 02P-030A-0002 (20 Reservoir St, north end) / Link →

Acreage

21.02

Use (Present)

• Commercial
• Industrial
• Other: Northern parcel, 20 Reservoir Street, is for sale, 2019. DECD awarded $200k brownfield grant for assessment for 20 Reservoir St parcel 6/2021.
• Vacant

Form Completed By

n/a

Date

n/a

Bibliography

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