The Hilliard Mills

The Hilliard Mills complex, is located at 642 Hilliard Street in Manchester, Connecticut west of Adams Street. Records indicate that the early American industrialist Aaron Buckland already had a woollen mill in operation at the site ca 1780, making it the oldest woollen factory in the country. During the period when Mr. Buckland owned the mill, the wool for the suit that President George Washington wore to his inauguration and also material for blankets for solders in the War of 1812 came from this factory. In 1824 Aaron Buckland sold the mill to Tracy and Williams. In 1828, Tracy and Williams then conveyed the property to Sidney Pitkin, who took on Elisha Edgarton Hilliard as an apprentice there.

In 1832, Mr. Hilliard became one-quarter owner and by 1842 became sole-owner of the mill. In 1849, E. E. Hilliard sold one quarter interests to Ralph E. Spencer and the business was known as Hilliard and Spencer. By 1871, the factory was again solely owned by Mr. Hilliard and named the E. E. Hilliard Company. During Mr. Hilliard's tenure, the company made blankets and clothing for the Union Army in the Civil War. After the death of E. E. Hilliard in 1881, his son took over the family business built the structure known today as Building #2 in 1895. The company acquired the rights to a brick lined pond in 1901, the former Peter Adams site and built a long raceway that extended through Building #4 for both power and washing requirements. The mill was further expanded in 1925 by the addition of Building #1 to accommodate the upturn in business.

The Great Depression took its toll on the business and by 1940, the mills were silent. The site was then sold to Mr. Aaron Krock, who leased them to the United Aircraft Corporation for the war effort.

In 1949, the entire site was purchased by the Bezzini Brothers for their company Old Colony Furniture. At the company's height, they were one of the largest furniture manufacturers on the east coast and supplied to retailers like Macys, G. Fox and Co. and Saks Fifth Avenue. Famous for its top notch upholstery work, Old Colony had a long and successful career and the name is still well known to this day.

In 2006 the Bezzini Brother's sold the remaining three buildings to Hilliard Mills LLC. When it closed in 1940, the Hilliard Company was the oldest family-owned, continuously operated factory in the U.S [4] .

Timeline

ca.1780-1824: Aaron Buckland founds and operates the first woolen mill in the country.

1789: The wool used to make the suit for George Washington's Inauguration comes from Buckland's mill.

1824: Aaron Buckland sells to the mill to Andrew Williams and Simon Tracy.

1828: Tracy and Williams convey the property to Sidney Pitkin.

1831: Apprentice Elisha E. Hilliard is made one quarter owner of the mill.

1833: Building #6, the oldest remaining structure, is constructed.

1842: E. E. Hilliard buys Mr. Pitkin's interest in the mill and becomes sole owner.

1849: Mr. Hilliard sells one quarter to Ralph Spencer, forms Hilliard and Spencer Company.

1871-1940: Mr. Spencer sells his interests back, Mr. Hilliard and his successors found and operate the E.E. Hilliard Woolen Company on the site.

1895: Building #2 is constructed.

1925: Building #1 is constructed.

1940-1949: Buildings purchased by Mr. Aaron Krock. The site was used to manufacture aircraft parts during World War II by the Pratt and Whitney Corporation.

1949-2006: Purchased by the Bezzini family, Old Colony Furniture Company has a long and successful history as one of the largest furniture makers on the east coast.

1980: The Bezzini Brothers sell off the older Buildings, #3, #6, #7 and #8, along with just over one acre of land.

2006-Present: Hilliard Mills LLC takes over the site, which includes Buildings #1, #2 and #4, and begins the restoration efforts.

Gallery

References

[1] Adams, M., "Old Manchester, a Picture Book", Grames Printing, Manchester, CT, 1994

[2] Adams, M., "Old Manchester II, The Storytellers", Grames Publishing, Manchester, CT, 1995

[3] Speiss, M., "History of Manchester", Higgison Book Company, Salem, MA, 1924

[4] The Manchester Historical Society Website

ee also

* Hilliardville, Connecticut

External links

* [http://www.hilliardmills.com] Hilliard Mills on the Web