Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Nightingale and Allen 1846-c.1900

Use (Historic)

• Textiles

Largest Documented Workforce

158 (1870)

Historic Narrative

G. C. Nightingale and C. Allen built this mill in 1846. By 1860 M. S. Morse, who had built a cotton mill directly across the stream in 1846, had pooled his holdings with Nightingale and Allen. In 1861 this group built the extant dam (157' long, 18' high, originally stone but substantially built in concrete) to serve the mills (including the Rhodes Mill) on both banks. After building the dam M. S. Morse's involvement with the east-bank mills ended. Nightingale served as chief executive of the firm controlling the east mills while Allen supervised production as agent. A frame wing, since demolished, connected the Nightengale Mill with the northern Rhodes Mill. In 1870 Nightingale Mills employed 60 women, 59 men and 39 children producing sheetings and shirtings on 10,432 spindles and 205 looms. By 1889 control of the east and west mills was again consolidated, with George M. Morse as president of the new firm and Nightingale as treasurer. This arrangement (but not all the people) lasted into the 20th century. A warehouse now occupies the 1841 Rhodes Mill, a plastics firm the 1846 Nightingale Mill. (Roth)

Number of Existing Buildings

Two (2) primary blocks.

Dates of Construction

1846

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Mill

Architectural Description

This 3 1/2-story mill, about 170' x 45', has a gable roof, rubble walls, central stair tower, and sills, lintels and quoins of granite. A rubble-walled wing to the north, originally 2-story, later gained a third story in brick. (Roth)

Exterior Material(s)

• Stone

Structural System(s)

n/a

Roof Form

• Gable
• Monitor

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

n/a

Condition Notes

n/a

Specific Location

One 1.27 acre parcel on the north end and west side of Kennedy Drive along east bank of Quinebaug River (opposite Morse Mill on west bank).

Adjacent To

• Water (for Power)

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 011/65/000 / Link →

Acreage

1.27

Use (Present)

• 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).