Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Beatty Bros. Straw Hat Co. 1912-1922
• Young Hat Co. 1922-1925
• Lees Mfg. Co. c.1922
• Veco Mfg. Co. c.1922
• Pearl Silk Co. c.1925
• Russell and Stapleton Inc. c.1942
• Flock Process Co., Velvetone Division 1946-1950
• Radio Research Co. 1969
• Jay-Arr Slim Wear Inc. 1969
• B-Vac Corp. 1984
• Inked Ribbon Corp. 1984

Use (Historic)

• Apparel & Accessories
• Fabricated Metal Products
• Textiles

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

JP Beatty: hats Lees: twine Veco: wire goods Quoted from 10/24/17 New Haven Register article: The 120-foot building is one of the last remaining relics of Norwalk's booming hat industry from 1856 to 1925, and some far-reaching connections to New York City. 'In those days everyone wore hats, and New York City was the largest area of hat production,' said Holly Cuzzone of the Norwalk Historical Commission. John P. Beatty learned the trade of making women's and mens straw hats at 16 in New York City and first produced hats under the name of Beatty and Peck. With his brothers Samuel and George, he started Beatty Brothers Straw Hat Company and in 1857 began manufacturing hats in Norwalk. 'In 1876, they shipped nearly $700,000 in goods—that would be well into the millions today," Cuzzone said. "They had a South Norwalk factory, we haven't found where that was yet.' A second factory on Butler Street employed 100 men and 200 young women, and produced 300 dozen per day, according to Cuzzone. In 1888, the brothers retired and A.C. Wheeler, who was to become the third Mayor of the Norwalk Borough, took over. In 1912 the hat-making operation was moved across the street to the 3 Quincy Street location. The Young Hat Company, a large New York City hat retailer took over the Quincy Street operation in 1922. Since its closing in 1925 as a hat manufacturer, the building has gone through many incarnations and had been home to the Pearl Silk Factory in 1925; Russell and Stapleton, Inc. Fur Hats in 1942; The Flock Process Company Velvetone Division from 1946-1950; Radio Research Co., Inc. and Jay-Arr Slim Wear, Inc. in 1969; B-Vac Corp and Inked Ribbon Corp in 1984; and Dance Dimensions in 1990. Note: based on 1876 atlas, the Butler Street location was the same as the Quincy Street location. In 1876, J.P. Beatty owned a parcel that ran along the west side of what is now Quincy Street, between Butler and Beatty (now Orchard) Streets.

Number of Existing Buildings

n/a

Dates of Construction

c.1912

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

n/a

Architectural Description

n/a

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick

Structural System(s)

n/a

Roof Form

• Hip Minor

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

Excellent

Condition Notes

n/a

Specific Location

West side of Quincy Street between Orchard and Butler Streets

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 1/ 11/ 8/ 0 / Link →

Acreage

0.37

Use (Present)

• Commercial
• Other: In 2017, Belpointe Capital submitted plan to Norwalk Zoning Commission to move a portion of the factory to 6 Butler St as part of Waypointe development. Slated for demolition and new development 3/2018.

Form Completed By

n/a

Date

n/a

Bibliography

n/a