Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• American Thread Co. 1899-c.1910
• G. J. Kirby Co. c.1910-c.1950
• National Thread Mill 1882-1899

Use (Historic)

• Consumer Products, Small Appliances
• Fabricated Metal Products
• Textiles

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

The Kirby Mill was originally constructed as a textile Mill in 1882. It was only used for textile production for a short time and was then purchased and operated by George Kirby for the purpose of manufacturing gold jewelry, eyeglasses and eyeglass accessories. (courtesy The Kirby Mill website) A group of local investors, headed by Marcus Johnson, built this mill in 1882 at a water privilege on the Natchaug River which previously had been occupied by another silk mill and several smaller shops. The mill took skein thread from mills in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and finished it by twisting, doubling, braiding, washing and bleaching. American Thread Co. bought the mill in 1899 and soon moved the machinery to its factories in Willimantic. A hardware firm used the mill until after World War II, when the University of Connecticut acquired the property. The race and wheelpit have been bulldozed, the basement windows filled with cinder blocks, and ancillary wooden sheds removed. (Roth)

Number of Existing Buildings

Two (2) blocks.

Dates of Construction

c.1882

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

n/a

Architectural Description

The 2 1/2-story mill, 155' x 52' with gable roof, has walls of gneiss in random ashlar. The central stair and freight tower, originally little higher than the main roof, was later raised to its present height of 75' and fitted with clock faces on all four sides. The adjacent smaller building with similar stone walls probably held washing and bleaching. Several mill houses from National Thread and prior firms stand across the street. (Roth)

Exterior Material(s)

• Stone

Structural System(s)

n/a

Roof Form

• Gable

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

Excellent

Condition Notes

currently used as offices

Specific Location

4.5 acre parcel on south side of Mansfield Hollow Road along Mt. Hope River just west of dam
Individually listed on the State Register of Historic Places.

Adjacent To

• Water (for Power)

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 34.110.27 / Link →

Acreage

4.5

Use (Present)

• Commercial

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).
2. State Register nomination on file at the office of SHPO, Hartford, CT.