Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Winchester Repeating Arms Co. (Div. of Western Cartridge Co.)
• Winchester Repeating Arms Co. (Div. of Western Cartridge Co.)

Use (Historic)

• Firearms, Weapons, Explosives

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

Firearms/ammunition and airplane parts The history of Winchester Repeating Arms Co.--its origin as the Volcanic Arms Co., its role in the development of the repeating rifle, its innovative mechanics and managers--is well documented and need not be recounted here. The firm started in New Haven, moved to Bridgeport in 1866 and returned to New Haven in 1870, when the first buildings were erected in the present location. The earliest factories do not survive, but the enormous plant, covering more than six city blocks, contains many 19th century and World War I-era structures. A 5-story 1895 brick-pier factory depicts the type of structure that housed machining operations for the manufacture of rifle parts. Winchester also made metallic cartridges for its firearms and began in 1883 to roll its own brass for this product. [A] plant expansion during 1914-16...doubled in size to 3.25 million square feet. The construction program cost over $8 million, most of it financed through a loan from J. P. Morgan andCo. Aberthaw Construction Co. of Boston built the new structures, most of which were of reinforced concrete construction. The buildings detailed here portray the historic manufacturing environment of one of the nation's major military and civilian arms producers, despite the considerable demolition, alteration and reconstruction that have occurred since 1916. Winchester, now a division of Olin Corp., still occupies the plant, though it has curtailed production greatly in recent years. (Roth)

Number of Existing Buildings

n/a

Dates of Construction

1883, 1886, 1895, 1914-1916

Architect

Leoni W. Robinson (c.1910-1916 blocks)

Builder

n/a

Building Type

n/a

Architectural Description

The oldest building is the 1883 brick-pier factory (1-story, 130' x 101') on Newhall St., which is now a company-owned right of way. Its timber framing represents one of Winchester's last uses of that structural material. The adjacent 1886 brick-pier factory (1-story, 102' x 80') has lattice-girder columns and riveted plate-girder roof beams; these iron components were fabricated and erected by Berlin Iron Bridge Co. A 5-story 1895 brick-pier factory (119' x 44') depicts the type of structure that housed machining operations for the manufacture of rifle parts. The original brass mill is gone, but the 1916 brass mill (high 1-story, 423' x 170') continues to stand; it has brick walls, steel framing and a 20'-high monitor along the length of its flat roof. This mill was part of the plant expansion during 1914-16, when the complex doubled in size to 3.25 million square feet. The construction program cost over $8 million, most of it financed through a loan from J. P. Morgan andCo. Aberthaw Construction Co. of Boston built the new structures, most of which were of reinforced concrete construction. The first of these was the 5-story factory (200' x 50') along Munson St., which was completed in the astonishing time of five weeks. At least 10 similar factories were built by 1916, as well as two powerhouses, various storehouses, kilns for drying wood for stocks, and the brass mill noted above. (Roth)

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick

Structural System(s)

n/a

Roof Form

• Flat
• Monitor

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

n/a

Condition Notes

n/a

Specific Location

275 Winchester Ave.,
265 Winchester Ave.,
150 Munson St.,
201 Munson St.

Winchester Repeating Arms Company National Register Historic District (1987).

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• 284/392/100 / Link →
• 257/354/100 / Link →
• 257/356/2300 / Link →
• 256/393/102 / Link →

Acreage

19.75

Use (Present)

• Other: Several blocks of the complex at the northwest corner of Winchester Avenue and Munson Street have been redeveloped into residential and commercial as of 2016, with additional conversions planned. As of March 2017, demolition and residential redevelopment of the western parcel (201 Munson St) planned by Resight Holdings/Eclipse Development. Jan 2022 DECD Brownfield award: $2,000,000 to the Science Park Development Corporation to abate and demolish the former Winchester Repeating Arms Company buildings located at 275 Winchester Avenue. This will allow for the construction of residential, office, laboratory space and/or retail buildings, and public open space on the 3.11-acre site. (likely the concrete blocks along Mansfield St)
• Residential
• Vacant

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. Loether, J. Paul. 1987. Winchester Repeating Arms Company National Register Nomination No. 87002552. National Park Service.