NORWICH the 1\.Ose of New England
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~1r~11"11: }llL®~ffil~ = (g)~~"lf'(?@ 00@) t;;;l Q..Ass. poo~. ':)'J4CoU Ea.'l fJ? ACGf.SS~ON ~0 2.0toT]O I . OU~C!: . '' ''3' '' ''''' 0231'' '' ' '~~~[l~ li ll00080i~ l' '~i'i~i' '' ~'n~' 4679''''' '' ' ' ' ' ''' '' ' PICTURESQUE AND INDUSTRIAL . EASTERN CONNECTICUT JUL 25 1918 Picturesque eEl. Industrial Eastern Connecticut ITS DESIRABILITY A Place for Industries A Place for Agriculture A Place for Homes A Place for Vacations PUBLISHED BY THE EASTERN CONNECTICUT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE \ . '':... t BrooklynO Colchester 0 ~• ch auy ~Pond N 1 Prefatory Note HE reason of this work is the desire of the five Business Men's Asso ciations in this part of the State, through their special Eastern Connecticut Development Committee, to join forces to secure and D make promptly available for inquiries compact information regarding industrial and residential opportunities in Eastern Connecticut. We expect that this information and publication will make our own business men better acquainted with each other, and with local resources, and hence will stimulate the development of local enterprises by local men as well as by men and by capital from outside the territory. The text is furnished by a considerable number of contributors, so that varied points of view are presented together with the bare statement of facts. The plan of this first edition limits the extent of its advertising pages, but as information accumulates and knowledge of the project extends, later editions may include many concrete propositions for development and the offering of farms and other properties for sale and for exchange. The "Good Roads" movement is reflected here. The State of Connecticut has spent and is spending thousands of dollars in building and maintaining good roads, with the result that the main or trunk roads in Windham and New London Counties are now, or will be in the very near future, in a condition to make driving with horse or automobile a pleasure, an attraction that should not be overlooked by anyone seeking a home. Since this work was compiled a complete report of a soil survey of New London and Windham Counties has been made public by Milton Whitney, Chief of the Bureau of Soils of the Department of Agriculture. Government experts declare that the best opportunities are offered in dairying and raising cattle, sheep, and hogs. A limited number of copies of this report, which contains a map printed in colors showing the different soils, have been allotted to the Senators and member of Congress representing the Second District ir. the House of Representatives. THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. NORWICH The 1\.ose of New England "I ask myself is this a dream ? Will it all vanish into air ? Is there a land of such supreme And perfect beauty anywhere ?" Norwich is the largest city in East ern Connecticut. Its romantic scenery, its attractiveness as a Norwich residential city, the Populati o n charm of its rivers 3 0 ,000. falling over abrupt and craggy precipices, the Shetucket, the Quinebaug, the Yantic, all finally joining hands in the forma tion of the picturesque and placid Thames at Norwich, the head of tide water navigation, 14 miles from Long Island Sound, all assist in making this famous garden spot bear its honors with quiet dignity. Its many hills and lofty eminences suggest a noble place for a town. So must have thought our early ancestors, a hardy Puritan band that formed the first settlement in 1659. Rich in Indian history and tradition, furnishing as it does the last resting place for two great Indian chiefs, Uncas and Miantonomo, whose graves are marked by suitable monuments, prop 'IOR\V!Cfl FALLS. "And the pleasant water-courses, erly inscribed, erected to their memory You could trace them through the valley, by willing and generous hands, the By the rushing in the spring-time, By the alders in the summer, historical charm of Norwich is second By the white line in the autumn. only to its natural charm. By the black line in the winter.'· ~ Its abundant water power, its exceptional transportation facilities, its geograph ical location-midway between New York and Boston - its superior schools, churches and hospitals- few cities of its size can boast so many beautiful churches and PiCluresque and Industrial Eastern Connecticut 5 schools as Norwich-the high mental and moral development that obtains among its citizens, its banking facilities, abundant water supply in its modern reservoirs for domestic and commercial uses, new and commodious hotels, up-to-date fire department anci apparatus, beautiful parks, municipal gas and electric plant, furnish ing power at a cheaper rate than any other city in the State, are all important factors to be considered when an industry seeks a proper location for its plant and its stockholders a suitable town in which to live. The industries a town may already have many times induce new ones to locate there, and inasmuch as one of the purposes of this work is to invite new industries to locate within our borders, and to offer encouragement and moral support to those already here, we mention the fact that Norwich is rich in civic pride, having several organizations composed of CJTY HALL, UNlON SQUARE large memberships of the active aud progressive citizens of the town. Among the more worthy of note as being leaders in advancing its industrial, commercial and agricultural development are the Norwich Business Men's Association, Incorporated, the Norwich Board of Trade, the City Beautiful Association, the Norwich Play ground Association and others of lesser note. Especially would we call attention to the Norwich Business Men's Association, because business men are the able, responsible men of the world. The Norwich Business Men's Association has an active membership of some zoo business ~ firms and is ever ready to furnish all 6 Picturesque and Industrial Eastern Connecticut available information concerning Norwich along any of the lines mentioned and will co-operate with new industries seeking ideal factories or building sites. It was for this very purpose the Business Men's Association was organized. V I E \\' OF T!IE H AR BOR Norwich has a great diversity of industries, many plants employing thousands. Only those having obtained world-wide renown, because of the superiority and merit of their wares, will find mention here : The Ponemah Mills Co., employing some 2,000 hands, is one of the largest in the United States, making very fine grades of lawns and Varied Manu!ac- cotton fabrics together with a great variety of fancy ging turing Interests. hams, etc, that are successfully competing with goods from foreign countries. Plant is locat~o:d on the Shetucket river at Taftville and has recently been materially enlarged. The J. B. Martin Company's Velvet Factory is one of the most noted acquire ments in the way of new industies that our Board of Trade has encouraged to locate in Norwich. Manufacturers of fine grades of velvets, their products are in great demand in the largest dry goods centers of the country. Plant is new, modern, and equipped with the latest improved machinery, employing some 400 hands. Totokett Mills, at Occum, furnish employment for 350 hands. Mills are operated for the manufacture of fine lawns, long staple Egyptian cotton being used. A new weave shed has lately been added, several new tenem~nt houses built and the village is steadily gaining in population. Shetucket river furnishes power for operation. Piduresque and Industrial Eastern Connecticut 7 The Falls Co. located at Norwich Falls, within the city limits, on the Yantic river, is one of the oldest cotton mills in Norwich and employs about sao hands. Denims, D. met flannels and coarse cheviots are made by this company. The Shetucket Co. is another cotton mill that dates back to ante-bellum days. Denims, awnings, etc., are manufactured, 300 to 400 hands being employed. Plant is located on the Shetucket river. The Hopkins & Allen Arms Co., makers of firearms of all kinds. Those that have become widely known are their police revolver, double, single and automatic guns. This industry ranks with the largest manufacturers of firearms in the country. Plant is thoroughly modern in every respect. Employs 6oo hands. T HE HOPKll'\S & ALLE N A RMS COMP A 1 ¥ Richmond Radiator Co., formerly known as the Richmond Stove Works, em ploys some 200 hands. F actory on the Thames river. Output consists of heaters, stoves, rad 1ators, etc. United States Finishing Co., Norwich Branch, is one of the largest establish ments of its kind in America. Furnishes employment to about 6oo hands, bleaching dyeing and calendering 6o,ooo,ooo yards of cotton goods in a year. Norwich has two prosperous paper mills, The A H. Hubbard Co. and the American Straw Board Co., both ranking high in the production of staple goods at standard prices. Norwich Cutlery Works, Branch of the International Silver Co., makers of steel blanks in the shape of knives, forks, carvers, etc. Plant is located on the Thames river, employing about 100 hands. Norwich has long been the home of several thrifty woolen industries, including the Yan~ic Woolen Co., the Reliance Worsted Co., the Saxton Woolen Co. and the Glen Woolen Mills, employing from 100 to 300 each. 8 Picturesque and Industrial Eastern Connecticut Norwich Nickel & Brass Company, makers of display fixtures for stores, offices, etc. Their market is the entire country. Occupy and own their factory, giving employment to upwards of 100 skilled mechanics. American Thermos Bottle Co. On-the-Thames. Our newest infant industry. Makers of the bottle that keeps fluids red hot or cold as ice. Will employ upwards of 500 hands when in full operation.