Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Art Silver Co., Inc. ca. 1949-Mid-to-late-20th c.
• Fries Spinning & Stamping, Inc. Mid-to-late-20th c.-Present (2015)
• Philip Wolf & Son Co. 1929-1947

Use (Historic)

• Apparel & Accessories
• Fabricated Metal Products

Largest Documented Workforce

25-49 (1939).

Historic Narrative

The origins of the Philip Wolf and Son Company date to 1920, when Philip Wolf, a Russian immigrant, moved from New York, New York and established a shirtwaist manufactory at 70 Quinnipiac Street in Wallingford, Connecticut. Around 1928, Wolf transitioned into the children’s’ clothing business, and in 1929 he partnered with his son, Harry Wolf, to form Philip Wolf and Son Company, which established a small shop in a new dedicated building on Washington Street in Wallingford. The business was incorporated with $50,000 in capital in 1939, with the partners in the business including Philip and Harry Wolf, and Joseph N. and Hilda B. Feldman of New York, New York. During the early 1940s Harry Wolf opened a retail business known as Wolf’s, which specialized in men’s and boy’s clothing, furnishings, and shoes. He remained a partner in the family clothing manufactory until 1947, when his father retired and the Philip Wolf and Son Company ceased operations. The Washington Street plant subsequently passed to the Art Silver Company, which was led by John L. Preisner and Raymond J. Bukowski and manufactured silver plated hollowware. The company had formerly operated on Hall Avenue as the Preisner Silver Company, and changed its name after moving to Washington Street. The factory is presently occupied by Fries Spinning and Stamping, Inc., a metal spinning, stamping, welding, and sheet metal fabricator established by John F. Fries, William Colby, Stanley Tubiak, and Alexander Dutkanich, in 1964.

Number of Existing Buildings

Two (2) adjoining primary blocks.

Dates of Construction

1929, ca. 1960.

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Mill

Architectural Description

The former Philip Wolf and Son Company factory is comprised of two primary adjoining blocks located on the east side of Washington Street, and at the southeast corner of the intersection of Washington Street and Judd Square. The plant’s original block was erected in 1929 and is a one-story, 70’ x 90’ red brick block with a raised basement level, concrete watertable, corbelled brick cornice, red brick parapet (this painted white), and a flat roof. The building is of brick pier construction and has large rectangular window openings with concrete sills and brick surrounds. The main entrance is located at the northwest corner of the building, which is formed by a 7’ bevel in the footprint. The entry is accessed by a concrete stair and is set in a round-arched opening with concrete keystones, red brick surround, and blind concrete fan. A one-story, 24’ x 60’ concrete block addition adjoins the original factory’s south elevation. This is used for shipping and storage and has two loading bays with roll-up style doors on its west elevation. Large window openings with multi-pane metal windows are located on the south and east elevations and the block has a shed roof.

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick
• Concrete Block

Structural System(s)

• Load Bearing Masonry

Roof Form

• Flat
• Shed

Roof Material

• Asphalt
• Tar and Gravel

Power Source

• Electricity

Condition

Fair

Condition Notes

The factory is in overall fair condition. Although most of the original windows have been replaced the majority of the plant appears to be structurally sound and reasonably well maintained.

Specific Location

One 0.24-acre parcel (65 Washington Street) on the east side of Washington Street, at the southeast corner of the intersection of Washington Street and Judd Square.

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

Acreage

0.24

Use (Present)

• Industrial

Form Completed By

Lucas A. Karmazinas

Date

06/16/2015

Bibliography

1. List of Connecticut Manufacturers, 1922, 1924, 1930, 1932.
2. Directory of Connecticut State Manufacturers, 1936, 1939.
3. Industrial Directory of Connecticut, 1947.
4. Register of War Production Facilities in Connecticut, 1951.
5. Map of New Haven County, H & C.T. Smith, 1856.
6. Atlas of New Haven County, Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868.
7. Birdseye View of Wallingford, Connecticut, O.H. Bailey & Co., 1881.
8. Birdseye View of Meriden, Connecticut, Hughes and Bailey, 1905.
9. Sanborn Map Company, 1885, 1892, 1897, 1904, 1911, 1919, 1925, 1948.
10. Wallingford City Directories; Various dates.
11. Hartford Courant, 1939.