Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Liberty Chemical Laboratory 1926-
• Microstat Company c.1928
• Boots Aircraft Co. 1930s-1966

Use (Historic)

• Rubber & Chemicals
• Transportation

Largest Documented Workforce

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Historic Narrative

History courtesy Edward F. Gerber and Ellen Gould (2020): The building was built by L. Walter Lissberger on his estate, Liberty Farm. Mr. Lissberger was a prosperous entrepreneur, inventor, manufacturer and promotor. Two of his major enterprises were the Keystone Tire Company and The Malcolm Tire Company. An authority on rubber chemistry, Lissberger built #19 as Liberty Chemical Laboratory and made an unsuccessful attempt to grow rubber sap from which to make synthetic tires. He then sponsored the portable talking reproduction machine called Traveltone as well as creating a cleaning product called “Wet Me Wet” (later sold to Proctor and Gamble). Among his most lucrative entrepreneurial endeavors at #19 was his Microstat Company, one of the first firms to commercialize the filming and “reduction of important papers for permanent storage on microfilm. In addition to his “businesses, Mr. Lissberger sponsored Amelia Garde Corson in a successful swim across the English Channel in 1926. It is interesting to note that he also backed several aspiring artists as well as theatrical productions. He also made significant contributions to civic and charitable causes. In the late 1930’s the building was sold to Boots Aircraft Company founded by pioneer aviator, Norman J. Boots, to develop and manufacture specialty parts for military aircraft. Soon after celebrating its 150th anniversary at #19 in 1966, Boots closed its doors. Back offices of a bank followed as a tenant. During the 80s, Ward French III Construction, a high-end home construction firm, used the space as its’ offices while also making some renovations to the space. Martha Stewart moved her studio to #19 (previously known as Westport Digital Studios, Inc) in 1998. The warehouse space was converted to one of the most beautiful studios ever built. The studio included three sound stages, a broadcast-ready control room, a shoot-ready prep kitchen with stainless work surfaces, radio broadcast facilities where her “Ask Martha” segments were taped, editing suites, offices, a guest cottage for overnight housing, an on-site gym featuring an entertainment system, a cafeteria and 8.5 acres of wooded grounds, aesthetically maintained for outdoor filming with multiple barbecue grills. Two primary kitchen studios were designed to film cooking segments and several studios replicated rooms from Martha’s various homes. Martha’s offices relocated to New York in 2004. #19 remained empty until 2018, when renovations for its use by MoCA Westport began

Number of Existing Buildings

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Dates of Construction

1926

Architect

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Builder

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Building Type

• Administration
• Warehouse / Production Shed

Architectural Description

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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

• Electricity

Condition

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Condition Notes

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Specific Location

Two contiguous lots in Norwalk and Westport, north side of Newtown Turnpike, west of Rose Lane, totaling approx. 7 acres; the building is on the Norwalk parcel.

Adjacent To

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Exterior Visible from Public Road?

No

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 5/ 31/ 26/ 0 / Link →
• 4355 / Link →

Acreage

Approx. 7 acres

Use (Present)

• Other: MoCA Westport (Museum of Contemporary Art)

Form Completed By

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Date

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Bibliography

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