Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Manhattan Shirt Co. c.1918
• R. and G. Corset Co Inc. 1887-c.1918
• Robot Knitting Mills c.1947

Use (Historic)

• Apparel & Accessories

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

R and G Corset Co. commenced operation in 1880 with a workforce of 125 women, most of whom operated sewing machines, 37 children and 15 men. The firm outgrew its first factory (not extant) on Water St. in 1887 and erected the main building of this complex. Tenants now occupy the buildings and no historic machinery survives. (Roth)

Number of Existing Buildings

Three (3) blocks.

Dates of Construction

c.1887, early 1900s

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

n/a

Architectural Description

U-shaped in plan, with two ells (4-story, each about 100' x 60') connected by a central section (4-story, about 80' x 40'), the c.1887 factory has a mansard roof, segmental-arch lintels and stone sills. The firm built two major additions in the early 1900s: 3-story and about 100' x 60'; 1-story and about 140' x 80'. All buildings are of brick. (Roth)

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick

Structural System(s)

n/a

Roof Form

• Mansard

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

n/a

Condition Notes

n/a

Specific Location

Two lots between Pine Street to the north, railroad to the east and Ann Street to the south

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 2/ 22/ 8/ 1/A (sample) / Link →
• 2/ 22/ 4A/ 0 / Link →

Acreage

n/a

Use (Present)

• Commercial
• Residential

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).