Taftville Historic District
Taftville is a small manufacturing village within the town of Norwich. The part of Taftville enclosed by the boundaries of this historic district are the buildings and lands formerly owned by the Ponemah Mills, at one time the largest cotton manufacturer in the country. The mill was among the first American mills to use Egyptian cotton for the manufacture of fine fabrics. When operating at full capacity, the mill employed about 1,500 workers and produced several million yards of cloth annually.
In addition to four major mill buildings, the Taftville Historic District Includes a few minor industrial structures, a large brick commercial block, three barns, an office, two church properties, a four-story brick boarding house, and 202 dwellings built to house the mill’s workers. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
In 1865 Edward P. Taft, for whom the village is named, purchased a mill privilege and 600 acres of land lying on both sides of the Shetucket River, four miles above Norwich. Shortly thereafter in April 1866 construction of Ponemah Mills began. The original corporators in 1866 were Edward P. Taft, James S. Atwood, Cyrus Taft and Moses Pierce. These original owners were not able complete the project. However, in December 1869 the Orray Taft Manufacturing Co. was incorporated with several, new major investors, (John Fox Slater , Lorenzo Blackstone, et. al.). The construction of the mill was completed, the name of the company was changed to Ponemah Mills and the mill began operation in 1871.
Like other Victorian industrialists, Taftville’s developers believed in enterprise, Christian charity, order, temperence and self-improvement. Taftville is the physical realization of this set of ideas. Edward P. Taft, planned his village carefully, providing his workers with housing and other necessities. It may be argued that these were necessary to recruit and retain a work force, and that many of the mills paternalistic activities were extremely profitable, but ignores the point that profit and good works were seen as consistent values.
The first homes in Taftville were built in the late 1860s and 1870s. Taftville’s layout show a concern for adequate open space, with relatively spacious houses, low building density, and wide, orderly, tree-lined streets which compare favorably with contemporary urban areas. The later housing in the southern section of the village is in closely packed long rows, another indication, perhaps, of the waning of the original vision.
Among the services provided by the company were water, sewers, a school, a fire department, free beds in Norwich’s hospital, a recreation area, a community hall, a meat market, a dairy and a general store. Evidence of most of these activities can still be plainly seen in Taftville today.
Ponemah Mills has been converted into luxury apartments and commercial space. More information about the development and history on the mill can be found by clicking Ponemah Mills.
Acknowledgements
United States Park Service
Historic Structures
United States Park Service
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Taftville” in the SEARCH box.
Telephone Exchange Building
The Telephone Exchange Building is an historic building at 23 Union Street in downtown Norwich. Built in 1906-1907, it was the first purpose-built telephone exchange building in the city, and is a little-altered example of period telephone exchanges built by the Southern New England Telephone Company. From 1951 to 1990 the building was used as the Norwich Police station. The building now houses city offices. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and is also a contributing property to the Downtown Norwich Historical District.
The former Telephone Exchange Building is a 2½ story Georgian Colonial Revival brick building, with a gabled roof that has stepped gable ends. The building is set on a brick foundation that is partially exposed. The main facade is five bays wide, with its entrance centered under an elliptically curved archway. The archway, like the flanking window openings, has a brownstone keystone.
The Telephone Exchange Building was the first building in Norwich to be constructed specifically for the use of the Southern New England Telephone Company. Earlier facilities were housed in rented quarters.
Prior to 1907 the magneto system of telephone operation was used by the Norwich Exchange located in the Beckwith Building. The magneto system necessitated the use of complex and expensive apparatus with each telephone served. Each set contained a magneto generator and two or three storage batteries. Turning a hand crank induced a current which enabled the caller to communicate with the switchboard operator. The batteries supplied the necessary current for talking. This system was relatively inefficient. Relatively inefficient, this system was replaced by the common battery system in Norwich, when the new exchange was put into service.
EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF TELEPHONE SERVICE IN NORWICH
“In 1879, the Western Union Telegraph Company founded telephone service in Norwich. This exchange was sold to the New London Telephone Company, which was reorganized under the name Norwich-New London Telephone Company. The Connecticut Telephone Company purchased the Norwich New London Telephone Company in 1881. In 1882, the Southern New England Telephone Company, chartered by a special act of the state legislature, succeeded the Connecticut Telephone Company, assuming control of its assets and lines. The Norwich exchange operated by SNETCO occupied rental space in downtown Norwich, first in the Richards Building, followed by the Carroll Building, and last the Beckwith Building, where it was until 1907. Rapidly growing demand for service resulted in the installation of improved equipment. From a one magneto switchboard in the Richards Building, the exchange grew to a two magneto switchboard.
SNETCO began introducing the common battery system in Connecticut in the early 1900s. In 1905, common battery systems were installed in several smaller exchanges and systematic census maps were prepared to show existing and potential subscribers before plans for construction were undertaken. Four new telephone exchanges using the common battery system were constructed in Norwich, Danbury, Middletown, and Bristol. Construction of these facilities resulted in increased capacity in these areas.” From Info Source 1
The Norwich Telephone Exchange was built with the purpose of introducing the new common battery system to the Norwich area, allowing expansion of the telephone company’s capacity. In Norwich, the capacity increased from 2,000 subscribers to 5,000 upon completion of the new exchange. Actual subscriptions increased from 875 in 1904 to 1,794 in 1908. By 1910, the Norwich exchange had 2,401 subscribers. When the capacity of the equipment no longer kept pace with demand, an addition was placed at the rear of the building.
In 1948, a replacement telephone exchange building was constructed at Chestnut and Bath Streets, about a block away. The old exchange was traded for the building lot, and renovated for use as a Police Station, which opened in 1951.
The interior of the old Telephone Exchange building was extensively remodeled in 1951 to provide facilities for a new Norwich police station. The renovation included: a) Jail cells which were built in the basement (originally a room for telephone storage batteries), b) a locker room, c) a stock room, and d) a Police Dispatcher’s room was built using the old telephone company employee lounge area.
The building now houses city offices.
Acknowledgements
United States Park Service
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CLK Hatcher
US Post Office - Norwich Main
The Norwich Main U.S. Post Office is located at 340 Main Street in downtown Norwich. Built in 1903-1905 and enlarged in 1938, it is a good local example of Classical Revival architecture, with an unusual level of detail for a period post office. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and is a contributing property to the Downtown Norwich Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places.
The site chosen for the post office was that of the former Amos H. Hallam mansion. In 1903 the mansion was demolished and work begun on a new, modern building designed by James Knox Taylor, the supervising architect of the Department of the Treasury. The Classical Revival style building is dramatically set on the hillside overlooking Main Street and the Shetucket River. It incorporated secret passages for postal inspectors to observe clerks without their notice. Construction began in 1903 and was opened officially on Washington’s Birthday in 1905.
The building employs steel-framed construction with limestone and brick facing. The front entry sports a portico of four fluted Ionic columns. The building was designed as a monument to symbolize Federal ideas and bring an example of sophisticated architecture to the community. Since it was one of only six buildings designed by Taylor in 1903, he had enough time to create unusually detailed design.
This mural, “1776 – Taking Up Arms”, was added to the lobby by artist George Kanelous. The mural depicts Norwich men responding to the call to arms for the American Revolution. One can see Chelsea Harbor and Laurel Hill in the background.
The mural was funded by the “New Deal”. The New Deal was a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933-1939.
When Roosevelt rolled out tens of millions of dollars during the New Deal to fund artists, musicians, writers and actors, its mission was more than just job creation. It wanted to create a version of American culture that everyone could rally behind.
Federal offices in the building at that time included the Farm Bureau, Army and Navy recruiting, the Internal Revenue Service, and Civil Service. Later, the Social Security Administration and the Selective Service Board were also housed in the Post Office building. Today, one can still apply for a U.S. Passport here.
In 1938 the Norwich Post Office was expanded and remodeled under the guidance of Supervising Architect Louis A. Simon. The addition, funded by the Public Works Administration, added two wings on each side of the building. The wings accommodated increased postal activity and provide space for federal offices. The addition was built with similar materials to the original, but not as elaborate in its design.
The building still serves as Norwich’s primary United States Postal Service facility today.
Acknowledgements
United States Park Service
“Stamped in History: Tracking Norwich’s Postal Service Through the Years”, by Dale Plummer, Norwich Bulletin (04/16/2018)
Public Domain
“Taking Up Arms”, by George Kanelous
Buckingham Memorial
The Buckingham Memorial is a 2 ½ story brick residence built in 1847 in a simplified Italianate style. It is located within the Downtown Norwich Historical District at 307 Main Street. The memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
The Buckingham Memorial is significant because of its association with William A. Buckingham, Governor of Connecticut from 1858 until 1866 and served as the Mayor of Norwich.
William A. Buckingham was born in Lebanon, Connecticut in 1804. He attended nearby Bacon Academy in Colchester, and, after graduation he returned to Lebanon where he worked for several years on the family’s farm. Ambitious and restless, however, he left Lebanon about 1822 for Norwich to take up a position in his uncle’s dry goods store.
In 1826, Buckingham opened his own store and in 1830 he became involved in the manufacture of carpets. In 1848, Buckingham made a sizeable investment in the fledgling Hayward Rubber Company of Colchester, a pioneer in the rubber industry. This concern quickly prospered and Buckingham’s financial interest led him to become manager and treasurer of the company. Buckingham’s political career began with his election as Mayor of Norwich in 1849, a post to which he was returned in 1850, 1856 and 1857.
Throughout the second half of his life, Buckingham and his wife Eliza lived in the house, now known as the Buckingham Memorial. As early as 1837, according to the Land Records, he was acquiring property between Main Street and the strip of land belonging to the Norwich & Worcester Railroad along the Shetucket River. The house, built 1847, became a center of Norwich society. In 1860 Buckingham entertained Abraham Lincoln and in 1870 he welcomed Ulysses S. Grant during their campaign visits to Norwich.
In 1898, the Sedgwick Post acquired title to the property which was then dedicated to the memory of the Governor and the troops he had raised so zealously. In 1909, as part of the celebrations commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the founding of Norwich, President William Howard Taft was entertained there at a reception.
The Buckingham Memorial now houses a variety of government and social service offices.
Acknowledgements
United States Park Service
E. A. Bardol & Co. (1909)
Yantic Falls Historic District
The Yantic Falls Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Yantic Falls is located about one mile north of the point where the Yantic River meets the Shetucket River, where together they become the Thames River.
There are two waterfalls in the area, the upper falls and the lower falls. The lower waterfall is near the “1” marker in the map below, and the upper fall is near the “5” marker. The lower falls themselves are a place of natural beauty, with large boulders upon which the water crashes in its forty foot descent. The Yantic Falls Historic District focuses on the lower falls area and the Commonwealth Works Site Historic District focuses on the upper falls area.
Just above the lower falls, the river is spanned by a railroad truss bridge of the Central Vermont Railroad and an iron pedestrian bridge, built in 1904 by the Berlin Bridge Company. This bridge provides the walker with access to the other side of the river and with a beautiful view of the falls beneath his feet.
NOTABLE PLACES
- The Lower Falls : Yantic Falls, also known as Indian Leap was a favorite encampment of the Mohegan Indians. Later, the Falls became the genesis for industrial development in Norwich. The legend of the Uncas leaping over the Falls is described on the plaque shown below.
- Allen & Thurber (1842-1847) : The availability of year round power, coupled with Norwich’s proximity to the major port cities of New York and Boston was very attractive to them. Many gun makers followed in their footsteps.
- Iron & Nail Company (1813-1823) : Nails were produced by a newly invented machine starting in 1813. The nailery was built, owned and operated by future Norwich mayor William C. Gilman.
- Cotton Mill (1823-1960) : The first cotton mill, located just below the falls, was built by the Thames Mfg Company.
- Falls Commonwealth Works (1865) : The Falls Commonwealth Works was a small industrial complex. Please see the “Commercial History” below. The Works site does not fall inside the boundary of the Yantic Falls Historic District, and is not a contributor to it. However, the Commonwealth Works Site Historic District, located in the upper falls area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 as a separate historic district.
- Central Vermont Railroad Bridge (1878 circa) : This is a Warren through-truss bridge. It has been used by the Central Vermont Railroad Company and the New England Central Railroad Company. It is still in use today.
- Pedestrian Bridge (1904) : Built by the Berlin Bridge Company, this iron bridge provides walkers access to both sides of the river with a beautiful view of the falls beneath his feet.
Below the falls is the mill complex. A road, meandering down the hill parallel to the rover, services the mills. At the bottom of the hill are the newer, brick buildings and where additions have been made, concrete. Farther up the hill are the older buildings, also of brick, with flat-topped towers and brackets.
NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY
The Falls were also known as Indian Leap, referring to the battle of 1643 when the Narragansets were defeated by the Mohegans. They were rival tribes and constantly at war. In their last battle, the Mohegans drove their enemy to the falls edge where they “plunged, either unawares or with reckless impetuosity, into the abyss beneath…”
COMMERCIAL HISTORY
Manufacturing days began early at the falls. In 1813 a nail factory was established there, where nails were cut by a newly invented machine. Ten years later, the water power from the falls was utilized to run the Thames Manufacturing Company. In 1818 Amos H. Hubbard started a paper mill at the Falls. In 1826 the Quinebaug Company was chartered for the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods. These busy and productive days continued until 1837 when many businesses failed in the financial crash and a general depression hit the area. The Quinebaug Company was sold and became the Shetucket Mills, then the Atlantic Carton Company, then the Thames Manufacturing Company and then became the Falls Corporation.
In 1842, the first manufacturer of firearms at the Falls, Allen & Thurber , began production. They specialized in cane guns and pocket rifles.
In 1860 the Falls Company took over Amos Hubbard’s paper mill. The buildings were expanded as the new companies prospered; the Falls Company grew to nearly three times its former size and power. As it grew, it purchased rights and privileges in the neighborhood so that by the 1860’s it was able to control nearly the entire water power of the Yantic River.
By 1865 Charles A. Converse had built an industrial complex at Upper Yantic Falls known as the Falls Commonwealth Works. Commonwealth Works was the home of a grist mill, a cork-cutting factory, a flour mill, a woolen mill, a nail factory, a foundry, dye works, Norwich File Company, Chelsea File Works and the pistol factories, Norwich Falls Pistol Company, Bacon Manufacturing Company and Hopkins & Allen Manufacturing Company.
In 1980 the mill building in the lower falls area was converted to residential condominiums.
Acknowledgements
United States Park Service
Public Domain
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Yantic Falls” in the SEARCH box.
Yantic Woolen Company Mill
The Yantic Woolen Company Mill, later known as the Hale Mill, is a mill complex located at 6 Franklin Road in the Yantic neighborhood of Norwich. Built in 1865, the mill is a well-preserved example of mid-19th century textile mill architecture, and was the major economic force in the village of Yantic. The mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places 1996.
The mill’s main building is a large 4½ story granite structure with a five-story square tower at its center. The tower was originally capped by an octagonal belfry. The main mill is connected to a series of smaller stone buildings. It was powered by water delivered from the river via a stone headrace that ran from a dam about ½ mile to the northwest.
When Captain Erastus Williams (1793-1867) acquired the property in 1827, known as West Farm, he renamed it to Yantic, meaning Little River. Prior to that time there had been some manufacturing at this site, including a grist mill, a saw mill, a carding mill operation and a short-lived cotton mill. Williams was a wealthy former sea captain who had retired at an early age to live in Norwich. He enlarged the cotton mill and converted it to the production of woolens. Later, in 1853-1854, Captain Erastus Williams also served two years as Norwich’s mayor.
It was a relatively large woolen mill for its day; employing 75 males and 35 females in the period just before the Civil War. Captain Williams was assisted in running the mill by his son, E. Winslow Williams (1830-1888), who assumed sole control following a disastrous fire in 1865. Within three months of the fire, E. Winslow Williams laid the cornerstone for a new, larger main mill.
His faith in the future was rewarded. Buoyed by rising demand for the mill’s flannels, the number of looms rose from 32 in 1870 to 88 in 1900. The additional looms allowed the mill’s production to grow from 1,000,000 yards to 2,250,000 yards a year. The cloth was dyed and finished at the mill and was sold through Boston and New York merchants.
After his death in 1888, E. Winslow Williams was succeeded by his son Winslow Tracy Williams (1863-1930).
In the 20th century the mill entered a period in which numerous successive changes occurred in ownership and operation. Following a period of financial difficulty, Winslow Tracy Williams reorganized the company as the Admore Woolen Company. The mill ran two shifts producing blankets and overcoat cloth for the government during World War I. Soon thereafter Williams sold the mill to Louis and Ira Kaplan, who operated it as the Liberty Woolen Company.
In 1921 it was acquired by the American Woolen Company, which idled the mill after consolidating production in another facility in Norwich. During the Depression, the mill was operated by four different entities and was idle part of the time. After a brief resurgence during World War II, weaving was suspended and it became a spinning mill only, providing yarn for other mills to weave.
In 1968 it was acquired by Hale Manufacturing Company of Putnam, Connecticut. The Hale managers were able to modify the plant’s methods and machinery so as to process rayon and other synthetics such as automobile upholstery fabric. This modification extended the life of the old mill for another two decades. By the time production ceased in 1989, the entire United States textile industry had become enmeshed in a global economy that no longer favored the small scale and ancient machinery that characterized mills such as Yantic.
Today the Yantic Woolen Company Mill stands as a reminder of the central role that textiles played in the development of eastern Connecticut.
Acknowledgements
National Park Service
New England Yarn & Pattern
Public Domain
New England Yarn & Pattern
National Park Service