Michael Conte, Jr.
There were three factors that attributed to the change in Farmington from an agricultural to industrial area. One factor can be thought of as the “grandfather” to the California gold rush. During the seventeenth century, graphite was located in Waterbury (no exact location given) and copper was discovered in Simsbury. These mineral discoveries touched off a search in the Farmington area for minerals that could be used.
Another factor was that waterpower, although not yet used was starting to come into its own as a power source. Men were now learning how to harness the river’s power, and mills at this time would turn a profit. Finally there was a factor best stated by Simeon Hart, “There was a low return on the time and money invested in farming.”
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The early use of the Farmington River, besides that of water, was as a source of power for a gristmill. (This mill is pre 1700 and still visible.) As power demands began to increase, modifications and alterations had to be made to the river. Some businesses (1850-1870) that were dependent on the river as a source of power and which employed a large number of people were: The Upson Nut Company which made bolts, nuts, rules, belt hooks and door springs; The Upson & Hart Company which made table cutlery, nut cracks, nut picks, bicycle pedals and chains; The Platner and Porter Paper Company which made fine book and writing paper; The Ripley Company that made binders’s board; J. Broadbent and Son who made cotton batting and hosiery yarn and The Case Company that made manilla and wrapping paper.
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(The Platner and Ripley Companies can be found on the 1878 Bailey and Company Map of Unionville #’s 13 and 18 respectively.) Although there was a great deal of industrial activity in this region, the absence of a rail connection to Hartford and fluctuations in water supply hindered the further growth of business.
Waterpower was essential to economic growth and James Cowles, recognizing this, made alterations on the river to best utilize its potential. This was a period in Farmington history after 1820-1850 which began to show a gradual transformation from an agricultural to industrial area. The tax list of 1821 showed that in Farmington (Unionville) there were 14 mills and 14 “factories”. In just 20 years the tax list confirms this change by indicating a drop in mills to 12 and an increase in factories to 25.
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(For a complete list of businesses, use pages 249-252 in Bickford’s book and refer to the 1853 Unionville map.)
As time passed new inventions made themselves available to better harness the river’s power. A major breakthrough was the use of turbines which greatly increased power and eventually powered all of the factories. An example that shows need and ingenuity was when the Cowles Paper Company, organized in 1866 needed power. What was done to supply the power was to build a power canal underground, below Main Street, to the factory. (Location noted on Unionville Map 1878 #11)