Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Chappell Coal Co. / Thames Tow Boat Co. 1900 - 1919
• Thames Shipyard, Inc. 1919

Use (Historic)

• Transportation

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

For historical significance see National Register nomination: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/75001939.pdf Thames Tow Boat Co. shipyard was built in 1901-03 by Frank H. Chappell. He used it to build and repair barges and ships for his coal-wholesaling business. The facility survives in a more intact condition than any other turn-of-the-century shipyard. Machine and pattern shops, boiler shop, engine house and other buildings remain, but the most important installations are the two steam-powered marine railways that were used to haul vessels from the water. Crandall Dry Dock Engineers of Dedham, MA, designed the equipment. Robert Poole and Son Co. of Baltimore built the winches and Houston, Stamwood and Gamble of Cincinnati built the horizontal single-cylinder steam engines. Historic American Engineering Record recorded the shipyard in the utmost detail during recording project HAER CT-4 in 1975. Photographs, measured drawings, interview transcripts and the historian's report documenting the yard can be found at the Library of Congress. (Roth)

Number of Existing Buildings

Roughly nine (9) blocks.

Dates of Construction

1900, 1903, c.1915 with later structures

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/75001939.pdf

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick
• Wood

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

eastern end of Farnsworth Street on west bank of Thames River.

Individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1975.

Adjacent To

• Water (for Transport)

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• F03/ 320/ 4 / Link →

Acreage

5.59

Use (Present)

n/a

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. Strickland, Clark J. 1975. Thames River Shipyard National Register Nomination No. 75001939. National Park Service.
3. HAER CT-4. 1975. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. Access.