As detailed in the Nineteenth Annual Report of the State of Connecticut’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (1903):
The firm of J. R. Montgomery & Co. [in Windsor Locks] was established in 1871, for the purpose of manufacturing cotton warps used in satinets and union cassimeres. The firm was composed of J. R. Montgomery as the active partner, with two others who constituted the partnership. A few years after the outside interests were bought by J. R. Montgomery, who continued the business under the old firm name, until in 1885. George M. Montgomery was admitted into the business as an active partner, and the line of manufacture was enlarged, taking up the making of novelty yarns, which was a new and unique line of manufacture. […]
In 1891, the firm of J. R. Montgomery & Co. was merged into a corporation under the name of The J. R. Montgomery Co., of which J. R. Montgomery, President, and George M. Montgomery, Vice-President and Secretary, are the active managers. A new cotton warp mill and an addition to the Novelty Mill was built. The capital of $350,000 was invested in enlarging and increasing the scope of its business.
The first Warp Mill was expanded in 1904-1905, as described in Fibre and Fabric: A Record of Progress in American Textile Industries, Vol. XLL, No. 1054, May 13, 1905:
The machinery of the new factory of the J. R Montgomery Company is gradually being put into operation as fast as the various processes involved will allow. The completion of this building, states the Windsor Locks Journal, marks a new epoch in the prosperity of the town. Standing on the canal bank with its five stories beside the basement, and its frontage of 173 feet, it presents a handsome and imposing appearance. Its width is 63 feet, and it is so built as to connect with and open into the former five story building on the north, making a frontage of 248 feet. The designer is Fred. S. Hines of Boston and the contractors C. H. Hathaway & Co., of Providence, R. I. The work was begun early last Spring and has continued without interruption or accident. In its construction and equipment it embodies all the latest improvements in every feature, as regards fire proofing, heating, lighting, the distribution of power, etc.
All the power and lighting in the new mill is supplied by electricity, and the electrical plant is one of the most complete in this section of the country. The cotton machinery is all new and of modern construction for the manufacture of high grade yarns and warps. A combing plant has been installed for making a higher grade of work than heretofore attempted in that line. It is the intention of the company to continue along the same lines as in the past, but to improve the quality of the output, and to add to its reputation for high grade goods.
In the 1890s, the company began producing tinsel products, eventually becoming the country’s largest manufacturer of decorative and electric tinsels. In 1920, the Montgomery Company purchased the adjacent Anchor Mills Paper Company building, razing it and building a new white reinforced concrete building, which extended southwards from the 1891/1905 structure. The Montgomery Company ended its operations in Windsor Locks in 1989 and the factory buildings have since remained vacant, suffering fires in 2006, 2009 and again earlier this year. Since 2009, the Town of Windsor Locks has been attempting to foreclose on the now burned-out buildings.
2019 Update: The old factory buildings are currently being repurposed as apartment housing.
1905 and 1920 Factories.
Additional Sources:
- “New Mill for the Locks: The Montgomerys to Increase Their Facilities,” in the Hartford Courant, September 29, 1890, p.6.
- “Windsor Locks: J.R. Montgomery & Co. at Work on Their New Building,” in the Hartford Courant, January 7, 1891, p.6.
- “Windsor Locks: The Montgomerys to Put Up Another Factory,” in the Hartford Courant, January 16, 1891, p.6.
- “Large Windsor Locks Plant of Old Established Company,” in the Hartford Courant, February 7, 1921, p.6.
- “Interesting Connecticut Industry: The Montgomery Company, Windsor Locks, Connecticut,” in the Hartford Courant, April 26, 1930, p.21.
The former owners of the Montgomery Co. should be forced to clean or pay for the discarded tinsel waste which litters the river bank and river. Tons of waste and debris litter the area. The buildings should be razed and a park or something usable for the community built on the site.
The buildings of authenic historic value were the six buildings lost in the July, 2006 fire.
All of these dated from about 1844-51. These included the ancient Eli Horton factory which made lathe chucks known ’round the world, the altered Converse foundry and the old Windsor Locks Machine Co. building which formery housed the Denslow-Chase manufacture of 30,000 ball and cap muskets for the Union army. In my view of renewal. these buildings of intricate brickwork could have been restored for small shops and the large Montgomery mill of 3 sections: 1891, 1904, 1920 in my opinion is a firetrap, an eyescore and has no historic value; it pulls down the economics of property values as businessmen cited in a 2010 town meeting on town blight; it is not redeemable and should be demolished. I further believe that the dream of converting it into condos etc. is just that: a dream since AMTRAK and DOT will not allow an at grade crossing north of the historic train station to access the property and other key players are not supportive of the project remaining in the shadows. I further believe that feeding this dream keeps the current First Selectman and EIDC consultant appearing as if they are accomplishing something because election time is nearly upon us.
–Mickey Danyluk local historian and 3rd generation WL Resident.
Woo-hoo windsor locks!
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hi, how are you. this is cool
I’m a strong advocate of preserving our history, but some things just aren’t “special” enough. And the Montgomery buildings just aren’t that beautiful, and their location makes it prohibitively impossible to repurpose them. Parking? Access? Traffic congestion and control? Just take them down.
To Mickey: My third great grandparents (and others) worked and lived in Windsor Locks and I am looking for photos, newspaper articles or any other historical evidence beyond the town’s vital records. I would enjoy conversing with you.
Bill Moryto
Suffield
As plans get under way to turn the Montgomery building into housing units is what type of life threatening chemicals and materials are imbedded in the bones of the building and nearby grounds??
Brief research shows that Tinsel was fabricated using lead ! When the health hazards from lead exposure were discovered ” lead tinsel manufacturing ” all but disappeared .
My personal tour of the building showed oil slicked floors and barrels of unidentified chemicals. I know for a fact that arsenic was used in one manufacturing operstion. I personally don’t know “the half life” of arsenic and other chemicals that were used in this building!
Patrick McMahon of the EIDC was to have published the Environmental impact of contaminates in the building. This was to be posted on the Town of Windsor Locks Web Site in February of 2016. Haven’t seen it yet!!
I’m sure that we will be told that that contaminates can be dealt with successfully but at what cost to the Town?
The philosophy of Windsor Locks Moving Forwarf” appears to be somewhat reckless.. The Plan, let’s move forward and deal with the unknow when we get there!!!
im comeing for you all and soon you will all perish