Clark Brothers Factory No. 1 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Clark Brothers Factory No. 1
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Factory complex, 1988
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1331 S. Main St., Southington, Connecticut |
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| Area | 4.7 acres (1.9 ha) |
| Built | 1893 |
| Architectural style | Industrial vernacular |
| MPS | Historic Industrial Complexes of Southington TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002679 |
| Added to NRHP | December 8, 1988 |
The Clark Brothers Factory No. 1 was once a very important factory in Southington, Connecticut. It was located in the Milldale area. This factory started making things way back in the 1850s. It became one of the biggest places in the country that made special screws called carriage bolts.
The factory buildings were made of brick, mostly built in 1893. This historic place was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Sadly, the entire factory has since been taken down. The land where it once stood is now empty and covered with plants.
What Was the Clark Brothers Factory?
The Clark Brothers Factory was in the southern part of Southington. It was on the east side of South Main Street. The factory was also located just south of the Quinnipiac River.
The factory had nine buildings connected together. Most of these buildings were one or one-and-a-half stories tall. The main buildings were where the machines made the products. Smaller buildings were used for other important tasks.
The factory also had a dam across the Quinnipiac River. A special channel, called a headrace, brought water from the river to the factory. This water power helped run the machines.
How the Factory Started and Grew
The Clark Brothers were among the first big businesses in Southington. They played a huge role in making Southington an industrial town in the late 1800s.
The company began by making bolts for carriages. They used water power from the Quinnipiac River. At first, they worked in buildings made of wood.
The Clark Brothers were very clever. They invented new ways to make these fasteners. One invention was a special "hammer lathe." This machine could shape the bolt's head and cut the screw threads at the same time. Eventually, they made the whole manufacturing process automatic. This meant machines did most of the work.
In 1893, a fire destroyed the wooden factory buildings. But the company quickly rebuilt new facilities using strong brick.
What Happened to the Factory?
The factory buildings were torn down sometime after 1988. This was after they were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The dam on the Quinnipiac River was also removed in 2016.
