Mill Record Middletown
RETURN TO ‘FIND MILLS’Disclaimer: Content for these properties was compiled in 2014-2017 from a variety of sources and is subject to change. Updates are occasionally made under Property Information, however the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation (dba Preservation Connecticut) makes no representation or warranty that the information is complete or up-to-date.
- Complex Name (Common)
- Sanseer Mill
- Complex Name (Historic)
-
- Lewis Prior & Co.
- Russell Mfg. Co.
- Address or Location
- 282 Main Street Extension, Middletown
- County
- Middlesex
- Historic Designation
- Associated Mill Community
- n/a
What can you do at this mill?
- Historic Information
Companies Associated w/Complex
- Lewis Prior and Co. c.1845
- Russell Manufacturing Co. 1884
- Sanseer Manufacturing Co. c.1823
Use (Historic)
Largest Documented Workforce
n/a
Historic Narrative
For historical significance see National Register nomination: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/86002101.pdf The Sanseer Manufacturing Co. built the first mill on this Sanseer River water privilege in 1823. The shop produced textile, woodworking and metalworking machinery, including an early version of the back-geared lathe. The wooden shop burned in 1845 and the property was sold to Lewis Prior and Co., machinery and screw producer, which built the extant brick mill. Russell Manufacturing Co. bought the site in 1884 and built the adjacent brick mill. Russell used these buildings for a specialized portion of its narrow fabric manufacture: webbings for harnesses and other livery equipment. A warehousing firm now occupies the buildings. (Roth)
- Architectural Information
Number of Existing Buildings
n/a
Dates of Construction
c.1845, c.1884
Architect
n/a
Builder
n/a
Building Type
n/a
Architectural Description
For description see National Register nomination: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/86002101.pdf The extant 3 1/2-story, gable-roofed brick mill, 52' x 30' dates to c.1845. Russell Manufacturing Co. built the adjacent brick mill in 1884. Also 3 1/2-story with gable roof, it is 75' x 32' and has a central stair tower. The tower has been widened to accommodate an elevator but half of its original gable roof can still be seen. (Roth)
Exterior Material(s)
Structural System(s)
n/a
Roof Form
Roof Material
n/a
Power Source
Condition
n/a
Condition Notes
n/a
- Property Information
-
Specific Location
west side of Main Street Extension between West Silver and East Main Streets.
Individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1986.Adjacent To
n/a
Exterior Visible from Public Road?
Yes
Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link
- 34/ / 0073 / Link →
Acreage
2.1
Use (Present)
- Sources
-
Form Completed By
n/a
Date
n/a
Bibliography
- Roth, Matthew, et al, Connecticut: An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites (Washington DC: SIA, 1981).
- Cunningham, Jan. 1986. Sanseer Mill National Register Nomination No. 86002101. National Park Service.
- Representative View(s)Click on image to view full file
