Historic Mills of Connecticut

Use (Historic)

• Clocks, Precision Equipment

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

For historical significance see National Register application: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/82001005.pdf and https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Photos/82001005.pdf Waterbury Clock Co. began in 1857 as an offshoot of Benedict and Burnham Manufacturing Co. In 1860, housed in the Benedict and Burnham plant on South Main St., Waterbury Clock employed 70 people and produced 60,000 assembled clocks plus 10,000 clock movements. Ten years later 142 workers made 82,000 clocks and 96,000 movements. In 1873 Waterbury Clock moved to a factory on North Elm St. that had been built in 1860 by Waterbury Knitting Co. The period of largest and fastest growth began in 1893, as the firm expanded its plant to serve the markets developed by Robert Ingersoll. Ingersoll's firm, R. H. Ingersoll and Brothers, acted primarily as a selling agent. Ingersoll ordered 188,000 'Jumbo' watches in 1893, 300,000 in 1894, and the order increased every year. Ingersoll also worked with Waterbury Clock in reducing the watch's size and in formulating mass production techniques for its manufacture. The redesigned, mass-produced timepiece became known as the 'Dollar Watch.' After Ingersoll's first order Waterbury Clock built a 4-story factory for the expanded production. More factories were built in 1898 and 1901, and several others were lengthened or gained stories.The plant employed over 2,000 people in 1910 and produced some 3.5 million watches. Further expansion took place to the west across North Elm St. and to the south across Cherry Ave. The west factory has been demolished but the 1918 south factory continues to stand. Benrus Watch Co. moved to Waterbury in the 1920s, renting space here from Waterbury Clock until buying the entire plant in 1944. Since Benrus moved out in 1968 many of the buildings have remained vacant. (Roth)

Number of Existing Buildings

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Dates of Construction

1860, c.1880, 1890-92, 1893, 1898, 1901, 1905-6, 1918

Architect

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Builder

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Building Type

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Architectural Description

For description see National Register application: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/82001005.pdf and https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Photos/82001005.pdf The 4-story 1860 brick mill, about 190' x 45', has a low-pitched gable roof and segmentally arched windows with stone sills. Two 4-story brick-pier ells, each about 80' x 40', date from c.1880. In 1890-92 three more brick factories and an ornate hip roofed office building with rusticated stone walls were erected. [The 1893] 4-story brickpier factory is about 165' x 40'. More factories were built in 1898 and 1901, and several others were lengthened or gained stories. In 1905-1906 Waterbury Clock added three 5-story brick-pier factories with dimensions of 116' x 43', 104' x 43' and 176' x 40'. Further expansion took place to the west across North Elm St. and to the south across Cherry Ave. The west factory has been demolished but the 1918 south factory continues to stand. The 5-story reinforced-concrete factory, 176' x 40', has a flat roof. (Roth)

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick

Structural System(s)

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Roof Form

• Flat
• Gable
• Hip Minor

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

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Condition Notes

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Specific Location

multiple parcels between Cherry Street to the north and east, Cherry Avenue to the south and North Elm Street to the west, including 232 and 238 North Elm Street, 203 and 215 Cherry Street

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 0255-0167-0119 (13 Cherry) / Link →
• 0255-0167-0125 (39 Cherry) / Link →
• 0255-0167-0120 (232 North Elm) / Link →
• 0255-0167-0127 (203 Cherry) / Link →
• 0255-0167-0126 / Link →

Acreage

1.57; 0.65; 0.66; 0.2; 0.36

Use (Present)

• Mixed-Use
• Other: Purchase of Schoolhouse Apartments, 13 Cherry Ave, by Winn Companies for redev 2017; completed. Partial demo of 39 Cherry Ave
• Residential
• Vacant

Form Completed By

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Date

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Bibliography

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