Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• GE Industrial Solutions
• General Electric Co. c.1950s-
• Trumbull Electric Mfg. Co. c.1900-

Use (Historic)

n/a

Largest Documented Workforce

1200 (1950s)

Historic Narrative

The Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company was organized in 1899 in Plainville by three brothers, all electrical contract workers: John, Henry and Hugh Trumbull. (John Trumbull became governor of Connecticut from 1925 to 1931.) The brothers produced electrical components, such as porcelain rosettes for transferring power, in a rented barn on the east end of town. Within a year, the company built and moved into brick mill buildings at the current site on Woodford Avenue, and expanded their workforce from four to forty. As the demand for electrical products grew, it produced a variety of electrical wiring components. Trumbull Electric was awarded substantial government contracts during the First World War, and gained national fame for manufacturing the New York Times’ first electrical switchboard system. In June of 1919, a majority of the Trumbull Electric Company’s shares were purchased and the company became an affiliate of the General Electric Company, but continued to operate as Trumbull Electric. Under the umbrella of General Electric, Trumbull Electric grew rapidly, both in Plainville and across the country, by acquiring other electrical manufacturing firms in Kentucky, California, Washington and New Jersey. With the outbreak of the Second World War, came large defense contracts, and Trumbull Electric became Plainville’s largest employer (nearly 1,000 employees in 1942). The company continued to grow with post-war demand for electricity-driven markets. By the mid-1940s, the company product line had grown to include appliances, electrical control equipment, and even agricultural devices. In the 1950s, the company's military defense production grew with sales of more than one and a half million dollars in 1951, factory expansion, and a workforce of over 1,200 workers. Also in the 1950s, the Trumbull Electric Company became wholly controlled by General Electric. The Plainville facility is still operated by a division of General Electric, GE Industrial Solutions, which makes high efficiency transformers, power systems, power supplies, transfer switches, etc.

Number of Existing Buildings

Roughly fifteen (15) blocks.

Dates of Construction

1912-1952

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Warehouse / Production Shed

Architectural Description

The earliest structures are located on the south side of the railroad and date to c.1912. The southern plant consists of approximately fifteen blocks constructed in three broad periods: between 1912 and 1921, between 1921 and 1931, and after 1942. All constructions are brick, ranging from single-story to the four-story office along Woodford Avenue. North of the railroad tracks is a secondary plant built in 1952 with substantial additions.

Exterior Material(s)

n/a

Structural System(s)

n/a

Roof Form

n/a

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

Good, Fair, Deteriorated

Condition Notes

All portions of the building are in generally good condition.

Specific Location

Two parcels totaling 20.43 acres on either side of the railroad at the corner of East Street, Woodford and New Britain Avenues.

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 23-S-01 / Link →
• 23-O-03 / Link →

Acreage

5.03; 15.4

Use (Present)

n/a

Form Completed By

Michael Forino

Date

August 2014

Bibliography

1. 1947 Industrial Directory of Connecticut.
2. The Hartford Courant, 1909-1987.
3. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1905-1942.
4. see 1906 Electrical World article regarding operations and new construction.