Home Woolen Company facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Home Woolen Company
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| Location | Main St. Beacon Falls, Connecticut |
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| Area | 8 acres (3.2 ha) |
| Built | 1853 |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000410 |
| Added to NRHP | November 29, 1984 |
The Home Woolen Company was a historic factory building in Beacon Falls, Connecticut. It is located on Main Street. This large complex was built between 1853 and 1916.
Many people worked here over the years. The factory first made wool products. Later, it made rubber items. Today, the buildings have been changed into homes. This important site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
What the Factory Looked Like
The old Home Woolen Company buildings are on the east side of Main Street. This area is at the south end of the town's small business center. The whole factory complex covers about 8 acres (about 3.2 hectares).
It has around 25 buildings. Most of them are made of brick. Some buildings are connected, and some are separate. The most noticeable part is the long front of the building facing Main Street. It has two tall towers, each five stories high. These towers hold stairs and clocks. The buildings have an Italianate style. This means they have a classic look with rectangular windows. The towers also have decorative brickwork called corbelling.
A Busy History of Production
The town of Beacon Falls grew quickly after a railroad line was built in 1849. This railroad ran along the Naugatuck River. The first main part of this factory was built in 1853. It was built by the American Hard Rubber Company.
This company had a special license from Charles Goodyear. He invented the vulcanizing process for rubber. This process makes rubber stronger and more useful. The American Hard Rubber Company worked here until 1858. They made things like buttons and flasks. They also made materials for shoes and clothes. They might have even made belts for industrial machines.
In 1868, the Home Woolen Company bought the factory. They made the plant much bigger. However, they faced tough competition from factories in the Southern states. The company closed for good in 1887, after closing temporarily a few times.
The next big company to use the factory was the Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Company. They operated here from 1898 to 1930. They made rubber shoes and waterproof clothing. After that, the complex was changed into homes.
