We've been with you throughout the pandemic, the vaccinations and the reopening of schools, businesses and communities. There's never been more of a need for the kind of local, independent and unbiased journalism that The Day produces. Please support our work by subscribing today.
I remember when a friend of mine and I would walk over the Yantic Falls to fish below the dam. It was an easy walk over Broad Street to Yantic Street with its big rock wall towering over us as we made our way to the steep rock stairs leading down to the lower river water. There was also at the bottom a neat cool spring coming out of the rock cliff. We’d stop and use our Thermos cups to cool us down and maybe throw water at each other while the factory loomed over us with its red brick walls gracing the rocks about the scene.
Now, I see a condo complex giving the occupants a marvelous view of Indian Leap and a place they call home. But we must go back a few centuries to see its beginning as a place of industry.
In 1750 an iron works was established on the Yantic by Elijah Backus, who produced necessary products to supply the American Revolution effort for the colonists. Mills began to spring to life following the Revolutionary War. The Embargo of 1812 showed the need for locally made products, which brought about a thriving textile industry both in the use of cotton and wool. Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin and the poor soil of New England in many areas made this a sensible outcome. With adequate water flow in the Yantic River, William C. Gilman built a nailery using modern machinery to cut the iron into nails through the harnessing of the Yantic River’s power. Later, Gilman brought in William P. Greene to assist in a new venture that would bring in even more industries. In all, there were two paper mills, a nail factory, an iron factory, a rolling factory, and a large cotton mill.
As time went on, changes came to The Falls because of the lack of adequate Yantic River water power which created a loss of factories. The seasonal drop in the river would not allow the installations to flourish.
Mr. Greene moved his operations to a new site along the Shetucket River where he bought land and developed a large mill complex in an area that would later be known as Greeneville.
Growth due to an increase of population and immigration brought about the needs for the expansion of products involving cotton and wool product cloth. Stores would need curtains, clothing, and awnings for their customers. Employees would be needed, so the Falls Company built homes for their workers, creating a typical mill village. The Falls Mill remained an economic force due to the power of falling water.
In the 275th anniversary on the Town of Norwich and concurrent 150th anniversary of the city in 1934, the Falls Company placed a full-page advertisement in the commemorative edition which said:
“In Norwich history, the decade of the 1840’s was productive of a number of new corporations, many of which are still in existence.
“The Falls Company, Cotton Goods Manufacturers, one of the pioneers of that period, was incorporated, December 14, 1843. Samuel Mowry, being elected President; William P. Greene, Vice-president; and D.B. Tucker, Secretary; and these same officers were chosen directors.
“For nearly a century the mill, one of the principal industries of the city, has furnished employment to a large number of Norwich people. Its chief product is a high-grade striped awning cloth.
“The mills are situated at the foot of ‘The Falls’ at Indian Leap, famed in Indian lore as the site where Uncas, the Mohegan Sachem, leaped the gorge in his pursuit of Miantonomah, the Narragansett chieftain.
“The present officers of the company are: Kenneth B. White, President; Nelson D. White, Vice-president; Alta Young, Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. Edmund M. Taft is the Resident Superintendent. The main offices are now located at Winchendon, Mass.”
It seems that when a local company moves its corporate office to another state, the factory loses some influence within the corporate headquarters. The Falls Company did end production, most likely due to what may be called planned obsolescence. As the need for awnings lessened following World War II, the use of multi-floored brick buildings became a hindrance in producing profits. Older buildings required freight elevators and multiple handling of raw material and products. With the on-set of cheap flat available land in the South combined with incentives of lower taxes and even lower wages, this ultimately led to the downfall of many established companies in the New England.
Bill Shannon is a retired Norwich Public School teacher and a lifelong resident of Norwich.
Blacksmiths were demonstrating their craft Wednesday for visitors at the Waterford Historical Society.
The news comes as the state's positivity rate hit a record-high — 17.78% — on Wednesday. Coronavirus-related hospitalizations climbed by more than 150 in 24 hours, to 1,113 Wednesday, the state reported.
Officials in East Lyme and Old Lyme Wednesday reached consensus on amending the intermunicipal agreement that will dictate the terms under which four beach communities in Old Lyme will be allowed to pump sewage out of town.
Jaques and Lisa Deyo have been taking advantage of low tides to walk through Jordan Cove.
The tiny house movement is here
Indoor yard sale revived at new downtown New London location
200,000 Connecticut households in line for tax credit raise
New London resident competes on ‘Forged in Fire’ TV series
Fauci: Vaccination rule 'should be considered' for U.S. domestic flights
Navy to offer booster shots for ship hobbled by coronavirus outbreak
Connecticut reports record high COVID-19 test positivity rate of almost 15%
Military gets pay raise as Biden signs $768.2 billion defense spending bill
Keep playing our games and reward the vaccinated and boosted
Seth Cunningham: All-Area Football Player of the Year
Meredith Healy: All-Area Girls' Soccer Player of the Year
Nick Washington: All-Area Boys' Soccer Player of the Year
Making soup joumou, a Haitian holiday tradition