The Story of the Tiffany Mill (Quinebaug Mills)

 

In July 2024, the historic Quinebaug Mill met its fate, reduced to rubble after standing for over a century. Despite plans to transform the site into residential apartments, the project fell through. The primary roadblocks were a mix of logistical challenges and financial impracticalities.

The Town of Killingly’s sewer system, already nearing capacity, couldn't accommodate the additional strain a large housing development would bring. Alternatives, like installing a private septic system, proved just as unfeasible, leaving developers with few options. In the end, the mill’s long decline culminated in demolition, another chapter closed in the story of New England’s once-thriving textile industry.

Unlike many abandoned mills that became storage spaces for forgotten relics or junk, Quinebaug Mill was eerily empty. Its interior, stripped of its former industrial vibrancy, showed little evidence of its past life as a cotton mill. Decay had taken hold—moisture had compromised the wood flooring, and the roof was in poor condition.

The mill’s stone exterior, however, was remarkably resilient, a testament to the craftsmanship of its builders. Yet even that wasn’t enough to save it. The building's structural and financial obstacles left its owners with no viable path forward.

The property did have a few intriguing features. A water tower, capped with modern cellphone towers, stood out against the skyline but felt untouchable due to its cancer-causing radiation. Nearby, the dam and dam house—a crucial part of the mill’s original power system—were never explored, a missed chance to connect further with the site’s history.

One standout space was the boiler room, which held up better than the rest of the mill. Beyond that, though, there wasn’t much to preserve. The mill’s quiet demise, marked by its unremarkable interior and years of neglect, felt almost inevitable.

For those familiar with the mill, its loss is bittersweet. While its structural issues and financial hurdles made rehabilitation unlikely in the end, the mill didn’t go out with a bang but with a quiet resignation.

Cotton manufacturing in Brooklyn, Connecticut, began in 1820 when Comfort Tiffany established a mill on the west bank of the Quinebaug River opposite Danielson. This early enterprise set the stage for nearly two centuries of industry and transformation in the area.

In 1848, Rhode Island entrepreneurs, including Moses and Amos D. Lockwood of Slatersville, acquired the property. Operating under the Quinebaug Co., they erected a substantial stone mill for cotton production between 1850 and 1854. This facility became a cornerstone of the local economy and a hub of activity, employing 310 workers by 1860—166 women and 144 men.

To house this growing workforce, the company built brick tenement houses west of the mill in what became known as Upper Village or Quebec Village. Today, it is now known as Quebec Square. These structures reflected the era's industrial housing norms, company housing, with each unit typically accommodating seven family members.

Today, these tenements remain standing and have been repurposed as affordable housing. Though time has taken its toll on the original factory site, the tenements endure as a testament to the community that once thrived there.

The industrial complex faced its share of hardships. The original stone mill was lost to a fire in 1961, along with other buildings that had defined the site. Among them were the Tiffany Mill, a 3½-story frame structure with a distinctive bell tower built in 1827, and the Quinebaug Mill, a sprawling, multi-winged facility constructed in stages beginning in 1853.

Over the years, much of what remained fell victim to neglect, fire, and demolition. In July 2024, the weaving shed was demolished, followed by the larger mill building in August. The once-thriving industrial landscape is now a shadow of its former self, leaving only the tenements and a lone water tower.

The Tiffany family sold their modest mill in 1848 to a group of investors from Providence, Rhode Island. Significant growth came in 1851 when Amos and Moses Lockwood, along with other Rhode Island investors, acquired the property and formed the Quinebaug Company. Under their leadership, the mill transformed into an integrated cotton manufacturing powerhouse, handling every stage of production—from carding raw cotton to weaving it into finished cloth.

A new stone mill, built to complement the older Tiffany mill, marked the beginning of a new era. By 1900, the Quinebaug Mill was among Connecticut’s largest and most advanced cotton mills, boasting 61,340 spindles and 1,656 looms. At its peak, the mill produced an impressive 28 miles of cloth daily, transitioning from high-end fabrics to more widely demanded sheeting as the market evolved.

To support this growth, a new dam was constructed across the Quinebaug River, and the stone-lined raceway—still visible today—was reconstructed and significantly enlarged. By the 1880s, steam power was introduced to compensate for the unreliability of waterpower, especially during the harsh winters when anchor ice clogged the long canal.

This innovation allowed the mill to maintain operations year-round, fueling its expansion and solidifying its role as the economic engine of the community.

Tenement houses from above still standing across the street.

As the mill grew, so did its workforce. By the 1860s, new tenements lined the streets near the mill. In the 1880s, another housing area known as Quebec Square was added to accommodate the growing number of employees. By the 1890s, the mill employed over 750 people, making it the largest employer in Killingly and a cornerstone of the local economy.

The Quinebaug Company reached its zenith during World War I when demand for textiles surged. The mill’s production capacity and advanced facilities positioned it as a key player in the war effort and a pillar of the local economy.

While the mill’s output and workforce declined in the following decades, its impact on the region was indelible. It not only provided livelihoods for generations but also influenced the development of roads, infrastructure, and social institutions in the area. The mill may be gone, but its legacy remains woven into the identity of Brooklyn, Connecticut, and the lives it touched.

Sources:

1. (1911) Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Danielson, Windham County, Connecticut. Sanborn Map Company, May. [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn01114_003/.

2. (1927) Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Danielson, Windham County, Connecticut. Sanborn Map Company, May. [Map] Retrieved from the Yale University Library, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, https://digital.library.yale.edu/catalog/11105635.