History of Plainfield, Connecticut, USA

Congregational Church, 1905

The First Congregational Church of Plainfield is a historic Congregational church at 519 Norwich Road in Plainfield, Connecticut. It was built in 1816, for a congregation founded in 1705. wikipedia

The Plainfield Woolen Company's Mill and Office, Central Village, Conn.
museumofcthistory.org

The Plainfield Woolen Company is located on the south side of the town's Centre Village, on the west side of Main Street near its junction with Norwich Road. It stands on 8 acres (3.2 ha) bounded by the road and the Moosup River, historically its source of power...

The site of the mill had been used at least since 1827, when a textile mill was established there. By the later decades of the 19th century, that mill had suffered from repeated flooding and increasing competition from more efficient producers, and had failed. The size and scale of the Plainfield Woolen Company operation was larger, and was focused in the production of high end woolen fabrics for use in men's suits and coats. At its peak it employed 300 people, with the machinery mainly operated by men. The mill remained in some sort of textile production, under a series of ownership changes, until 1984. wikipedia

Wauregan Mills, Wauregan, Conn.
museumofcthistory.org

Wauregan, which means “Pleasant Valley” in Mohegan (a native tribe in the area), began in about 1850 when Amos D. Lockwood, bought water privileges and land on the east side of the Quinebaug River in present day Plainville. The Wauregan Mills Company became well-known for their specialty cotton goods, with an emphasis on cotton flannel sheeting. The first mill building was constructed in 1853 of local stone and comprised of a singular four-story building. Within five years, Lockwood sold the mill and the surrounding land for much more than he invested to James S. Atwood, who sought to develop a “model hamlet” around the mill building which would allow factory employees to live and shop near their work...

On August 1955, torrential rains from Hurricanes Connie and Diane caused many dams along the Quinebaug River to break, including the one at Wauregan. The mill was flooded to the level of the first floor ceilings. Workers... Read more

Cranska Thread Mills
museumofcthistory.org

Floyd Cranska, of Plainfield (Moosup), is a native of Thompson and was born September 16, 1849. He is the son of James and Asenath (Randall) Cranska. He was educated in the public schools and at the age of nineteen removed to Grosvenordale, where he was engaged as an assistant station agent and postmaster of the village. Soon after he accepted a position with the Grosvenordale Mfg. Co. as head clerk and paymaster of their mills. After a faithful service of ten years, he severed his connection with this company and in January, 1880, upon purchasing the cotton mill at Moussup, formerly known as the Gladding mill, bean there the manufacture of cotton yarns for the weaving trade. Mr. Cranska made improvements in the mill, introducing machinery for the manufacture of a high grade of thread yarns. The superior quality of the production of the mill created a steady demand for its goods, and in 1886 the capacity of the mill was doubled by the... Read more

Depot, Plainfield, Conn.