In 1865 Charles A. Converse consolidated water rights at Yantic Falls and built a large brick building, the “Commonwealth Works”. The facility housed a number of different water-powered enterprises. The map shown below was created in 1912 and shows the location of the Works Site. Most of the enterprises moved to a different location or failed prior to 1890.
*Place cursor over map to magnify
- Upper Yantic Falls : All the enterprises located at the Commonwealth Works Site relied on the energy produced from the fall of water at Yantic Falls.
- Lower Yantic Falls : The scene of Indian Leap.
- Commonwealth Works Site : The site was equivalent to a modern-day industrial park. Several water-powered industries were clustered here. As shown in the maps above, the Commonwealth Works Site was located near the Upper Falls.
- New London Northern Railroad : From 1861-1872 the New London Northern Railroad operated train service from New London, thru Norwich, to Brattleboro, Vermont. The goods manufactured at the Commonwealth Works site, had easy access to markets via this railroad.
- Falls Company Cotton Mill : A large cotton factory located beneath the Lower Falls. The Falls Company Cotton Mill is not a part of the Commonwealth Works site; it is highlighted as a reference point.