Sanseer Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sanseer Mill
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Panoramic view of Sanseer Mill, 2012
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 282 Main St. Ext., Middletown, Connecticut |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1845 |
| NRHP reference No. | 86002101 |
| Added to NRHP | July 31, 1986 |
The Sanseer Mill is a really old building in Middletown, Connecticut. It was built a long time ago in the 1800s. This special mill is located at 282 Main Street Extension. Because it's so important to history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it's officially recognized as a place worth protecting!
Contents
Where is the Sanseer Mill Located?
The Sanseer Mill is a big brick building. It's one of three old factory buildings found in a quiet area called the South Farms district. Even though it's near Main Street Extension, it's hidden a bit by trees and plants. The area around it is well-kept and pretty.
The Sanseer Mill is the largest building here. It sits next to another brick building on its south side. There's also a large barn-like building nearby to the east. The main address for these buildings is 282 Main Street Extension. There used to be an entrance from East Main Street, which is now used as an exit.
What is the History of Sanseer Mill?
This large brick building was likely built shortly after the Russell Manufacturing Company bought the land in 1884. Before that, the Sanseer Manufacturing Company owned the site. Their main building, also made of brick, was built way back in 1845.
What Did They Make at the Mill?
The Russell Manufacturing Company started in 1834. They made many different kinds of cotton and elastic woven products. By 1894, they were the biggest maker of suspenders in the whole country! They had about 900 workers across their seven groups of mills.
The Sanseer Mill was part of this big company. It used steam power to run its machines. It probably had many weaving looms, just like the other two buildings nearby. Together, these buildings formed the company's Sanseer Mill complex.
Later Owners and Uses
In 1937, a man named Philip Bliss bought the property. His company, the P&H Bliss Company, mainly used the buildings for offices and storage.
The Sanseer Mill building itself has some cool features. It has a four-story stairwell sticking out from the middle of one side. There's also a tall, rectangular chimney nearby. The main entrance has a small wooden porch with white columns. These white parts stand out against the brick walls.
How the Mill Changed the Area
The Sanseer Mill is one of the oldest mills in the area that hasn't been changed much. It shows how much the South Farms district grew after the American Civil War. In the late 1800s, this area saw a lot of growth in factories and homes. This was mostly because the Russell Manufacturing Company was so successful.
What is the Sanseer Mill Used for Today?
In the early 1980s, the Sanseer Mill was updated to become modern office spaces. From the 1990s to 2003, Whitney Garlinghouse owned the building. His company, The Garlinghouse Company, which made architectural house plans, had its offices there. The old buildings were kept in their original condition, which cost a lot of money. Dinar Chaudhury bought the property in 2006.
As of 2011, many different businesses use parts of the complex. These include:
- John Conroy, DMD of Conroy Orthodontics
- Anthony Onofrio, DMD and Pamela Moore, DMD of Middlesex Dental Associates
- Roger Lane, DC of the Middletown Chiropractic Center
- Jeffrey Palmer, OD and Dorothy Robison Collins, OD of the Palmer Eyecare Center
- New England Residential Services
- RaMa Luna Yoga Studio
- New England Geosystems, LLC (GIS consultants)
