CWTA - Resources - History Of Connecticut's Water Trails - History of Mills - Georgetown




Connecticut Water Trails Association

Table Of Contents

Connecticut Water Trails

Basic Concepts

History Of Connecticut's Water Trails

History of Connecticut Mills

Connecticut Water Trails Program

History Of Connecticut's Water Trails

History of Mills In Connecticut

Georgetown Mills

Gilbert & Bennett

Old Mill Road

Old Red Mill

Old Mill Road

- by Wilbur F. Thompson & notes by Brent M. Colley

From the early settlement of our state until about 1850, the people living in our rural communities were, to a great extent, independent of the outside world; the farms and little shops and mills producing almost everything used in the homes of their day. At one time there were approximately sixteen busy shops and mills along the banks of the Norwalk River from its source in Ridgefield to tidewater in Norwalk. Today all that remains are the bricks and stones of their foundations and dams. The information below (a large majority of which comes from Wilbur F. Thompson) explains their history and the individuals that worked them many years ago.

The first mill to be built in the early days was the Grist Mill, then the Saw Mill, Blacksmith Shop, Woolen Mill, Tannery and Cider Mill. Georgetown was no exception to the general rule, and along its streams and highways are found evidences of many little home industries that flourished, long years ago. It is probable that the first corn and grain raised in Georgetown was ground in the home-made mortars of wood or stone, with a pestle, or in the old Indian stone stamp mortars which can be found in the rocks along the Norwalk River in many places.

Grist Mills

The first Grist Mills where the early settlers of Georgetown had their corn and rye ground were located outside of the village. One stood on the west bank of the Saugatuck River, near the foot of Nobb's Crook Hill. (This was about 1730). The miller's name was Jabez Burr. Many years later a wind grist mill was built in what was called Dumping Hole or Hill (now in Cannondale School District,) about two miles southeast of Georgetown. Another Grist Mill located at the intersection of Florida Hill and Old Redding Road, operated by Peter Burr and dating to 1737 was a likely source for the settlers as well.

The first grist mill in what is now the village of Georgetown was probably built and run by George Abbott. If there was one before this, the name of the owner is not known. In 1764 George Abbott, formerly of Salem, Westchester Co., Province of New York, bought of Ebenezer Slawson, of Norwalk, a mill privilege on the Norwalk River for the purpose of erecting a grist mill. The mill was built and he commenced to grind corn and grain. There is also a tradition that John Belden had built a saw mill on or near the same site, and Abbott purchased that mill site from him as well. Located on the only road between Danbury and Norwalk it was a very profitable business; people from miles around brought their grain to be ground, or logs to be sawed up into lumber.

Abbott ran the mills for many years and his wife (known as "Aunt Lucy") kept a tavern or half-way house for the teamsters traveling the Danbury and Norwalk turnpike.

A long list of owners followed Abbott at this location.

The next owner of the mill was Stephen Perry. He rebuilt the dam and mill; and it became known as Perry's Mill.

Later Joseph Goodsell the 1st. ran the mill.

The next owner was Ephraim B. Godfrey and his son Wakeman Godfrey. Godfrey & Son ran the grist and saw mill for many years and did a large business. Glenburg Chemical Works would put Wakeman Godfrey out of business.

Some time after, Edwin Gilbert bought the property, rebuilt the mill dam and mill, enlarging it, and fitting it up for other manufacturing; for a while, Betts & Northrop had a carpenter shop there as well. Blood's patent flour sifter and other wire goods were made there at that time.

Later the Gilbert & Bennett Co. gained ownership and changed it into a wire mill, the third floor of this mill was set up and ran the second machine in this country for making wire netting and fencing in 1869 and '70. In 1865 Gilbert & Bennett & Co. had installed the first power machinery for making wire poultry netting. It was used for that line of work until it burned down around the early 1900's. G&B converted this entire area into it's "Lower Factory" wire mills.

Lower Factory Wire Mills

The "Lower Factories" included several manufacturing buildings, a wire drawing plant and a dam large enough to create what was known as the Lower Factory Pond.

The Lower Factories were the last mills in this location serving Gilbert & Bennett well in their life span. G&B would later focus their attention on the factories we know today between North Main Street and Portland Avenue. Back then these factories were referred to as their Upper Factories. Improvements in the railroad, particularly the spur line that was run into the Upper Factories in 1874 led to the expansion of and focus on this location. The Lower Factories were all lost to fire over time.