Royal Typewriter Company Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Royal Typewriter Company Building
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1981 photo
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 150 New Park Ave., Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 7.5 acres (3.0 ha) |
| Built | 1907 |
| Built by | Hibbard, B.H., Co.; O'Brien, Dennis, & Sons |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003898 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1989 |
The Royal Typewriter Company building was once a very important factory in Hartford, Connecticut. It was built in 1907 and was the main place where the Royal Typewriter Company made its typewriters. This company was a big employer in Hartford for many years, until 1972. Sadly, most of the building was destroyed by a fire in 1992. The rest of it was then taken down. Today, a shopping center stands on the site, and you can find a special plaque there to remember the factory. This building was a great example of how factories were built in the late 1800s. It was even added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 because of its history.
About the Royal Typewriter Factory
The Royal Typewriter factory was located in the Parkville area of Hartford. It was on the east side of New Park Avenue. The building was very long and had seven large sections that stuck out towards the road. Even though it was built in the 1900s, it used older building methods from the 1800s. This included strong brick walls that held up the building. The factory also had a cool mix of old styles, like castle-like towers and fancy decorations.
How the Factory Grew Over Time
The first part of the building was finished in 1907. Over the years, the factory kept growing bigger and bigger. It reached its largest size around 1947. At its peak, this factory was a key part of Hartford's role in making typewriters for the whole world. Another big typewriter company, Underwood Typewriter Company, was also in Hartford.
The Royal Typewriter Company first started in Brooklyn, New York in 1906. But their first factory there was too small very quickly. A man named Charles Cook became a major owner of the company. He helped move the factory operations to Hartford in 1909. After some big company changes and mergers, the Hartford factory finally closed its doors in 1972.
What Happened to the Building
After the factory closed, people tried to find new uses for the huge building. But these plans didn't work out. Then, in 1992, a big fire destroyed about two-thirds of the factory. The parts of the building that were left after the fire were later torn down. Today, a supermarket and shopping center stand where the famous Royal Typewriter factory once was.
