Shelton Canal St Multi alarm mill complex
06/13/20 Shelton, CT - Multiple departments in the valley battled this mill fire involving the former Star Pin Company. The fire consumed several multi story, mill buildings. The fire was reported shortly after seven p.m. and by the time first due companies arrived they had a portion of the complex with heavy fire though out. The fire quickly spread to the other buildings within the complex, followed by several collapses of the structures. Companies had an access problems due to the factory being built river side and a narrow street to operate on. A heads up move by one of the Shelton MPO's involved drafting from the canal under the street through a manhole. Several ladders, multi versals and hand lines worked for hours to darken down the fire. It would not be brought under control for some eight hours later.
The buildings were built in 1875 and the company operated until 1975 making hair pins. The Star Pin Company was founded on September 25, 1866 and originally ten employees produced pins and hair pins within a 5,000 square foot frame mill in the Wells Hollow section of Shelton. One of the founders and early officers of the company, James C. Hubbard, initially operated a pin shop in North Haven and is credited with inventing one of the first automated hair pin making machines in the United States. Hubbard’s son, Henry Franklin Hubbard, joined the company during the 1890s and was active with the firm for 57 years. During this time he attained the title of 'dean of American pin makers,' after designing the machine that produced the first 'bobby pins.' The Star Pin Company’s early success quickly caused it to outgrow its initial factory and in 1875 the firm erected a three-and-a-half-story brick mill along the Housatonic Water Company’s recently constructed canal. This structure comprises the first three stories of the present complex’s central block, this raised to four stories shortly after the four-story block to the north was constructed by the company in 1906. By this time the firm employed over 125 workers producing its lines of pins, hair pins, and garment hook and eyes. The company’s peak came during the 1920's, whereupon 400 employees toiled within 125,000 feet of total floor space. By the early 1950's, the company also produced folding paper boxes and numbered 140 employees. In 1973, a Hartford Courant article highlighted the fact that the Star Pin Company was one of the last firms in the state continuing to employ water powered generation, which it used to generate lighting. Following the closure of the Star Pin Company, its Canal Street plant passed to the Genie Manufacturing Company, a division of North American Philips.
Read MoreThe buildings were built in 1875 and the company operated until 1975 making hair pins. The Star Pin Company was founded on September 25, 1866 and originally ten employees produced pins and hair pins within a 5,000 square foot frame mill in the Wells Hollow section of Shelton. One of the founders and early officers of the company, James C. Hubbard, initially operated a pin shop in North Haven and is credited with inventing one of the first automated hair pin making machines in the United States. Hubbard’s son, Henry Franklin Hubbard, joined the company during the 1890s and was active with the firm for 57 years. During this time he attained the title of 'dean of American pin makers,' after designing the machine that produced the first 'bobby pins.' The Star Pin Company’s early success quickly caused it to outgrow its initial factory and in 1875 the firm erected a three-and-a-half-story brick mill along the Housatonic Water Company’s recently constructed canal. This structure comprises the first three stories of the present complex’s central block, this raised to four stories shortly after the four-story block to the north was constructed by the company in 1906. By this time the firm employed over 125 workers producing its lines of pins, hair pins, and garment hook and eyes. The company’s peak came during the 1920's, whereupon 400 employees toiled within 125,000 feet of total floor space. By the early 1950's, the company also produced folding paper boxes and numbered 140 employees. In 1973, a Hartford Courant article highlighted the fact that the Star Pin Company was one of the last firms in the state continuing to employ water powered generation, which it used to generate lighting. Following the closure of the Star Pin Company, its Canal Street plant passed to the Genie Manufacturing Company, a division of North American Philips.
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