Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Warrenton Woolen Co. 1908-1984

Use (Historic)

• Textiles

Largest Documented Workforce

100 (1897)

Historic Narrative

In 1844, the Union Manufacturing Company was established in Wolcottville (present day Torrington). The founder, John Hungerford, along with some members of the Holley Family of Salisbury, initially used the Wolcott brothers woolen upper mill near the intersection of Water and Main Streets in downtown Torrington. The company began producing fine doe-skin, but by the end of the 19th century was making heavy woolen uniform cloth for the police and the military, its specialty from then on. By 1894, the business had changed ownership to the Workman family and was renamed the Warrenton Woolen Company. In 1908, the growth of the company necessitated the expansion of the facility, but there was not enough space at the downtown location. The new mill was designed by Charles T. Main and was substantially larger in size than the Water Street mill; it featured electrical power systems. The firm produced woolen cloth until closure in 1984.

Number of Existing Buildings

Six (6) blocks.

Dates of Construction

1908,1915

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

• Administration
• Loft
• Mill
• Warehouse / Production Shed

Architectural Description

The Warrenton Woolen Mill Site comprises six industrial buildings which operated from 1908 to 1984. With the exception of the 1915 two-story brick office building to the south of the factory, the rest of the brick buildings were constructed in c.1908-1909. A detached powerhouse to the southwest provided heat and steam power, the latter transferred via underground tunnel to the one story brick dye house immediately north. The north end of the dye house connects to a three-story loft storage building. Directly east and connected by an iron footbridge is a three story saw-tooth loft weaving building, with an adjoining 3-story loft with large monitor skylight. Only a coal and oil storage shed to the southwest of the powerhouse has been demolished.

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick

Structural System(s)

• Load Bearing Masonry
• Post and Beam

Roof Form

• Flat
• Monitor
• Sawtooth

Roof Material

• Rubber

Power Source

• Electricity
• Steam

Condition

Good, Fair, Deteriorated

Condition Notes

All portions of the building are in generally good condition.

Specific Location

Set back from the east side of Main Street opposite Northridge Avenue, between the East Branch of the Naugatuck River and the railroad to the west

For description see National Register application: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/87000115.pdf

Adjacent To

• Railroad

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 120/004/014/104 sample condo / Link →
• 120/004/014/010 sample condo / Link →
• 120/004/014 / Link →

Acreage

n/a

Use (Present)

• Residential

Form Completed By

Mike Forino

Date

n/a

Bibliography

1. 1987 National Register Nomination Form:.
2. National Park Service.