A Stroll Through ‘Silk City’ - Manchester, CT

City Walks

Oct 18

The town of Manchester was founded in 1672 after Puritans purchased the land from the Mohegan Native Americans. Manchester’s modern history began with the Cheney family, prominent early settlers who played a key role in the town’s development by founding the Cheney Brothers Silk Manufacturing Company in 1838. This company grew to become one of the largest and most successful silk manufacturers in the United States, earning Manchester the nickname "Silk City." The Cheney mills not only shaped the town's economy but also influenced its infrastructure by building homes for workers, schools, and recreational facilities, creating a model industrial community.

The Cheney Brothers' silk mills reached their peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, employing thousands of workers and transforming Manchester into a thriving industrial hub. However, the company’s fortunes began to decline after World War I, and the Great Depression of the 1930s further weakened Manchester's silk industry. By the mid-20th century, most of the mills had closed down.

Today, Manchester is a vibrant suburban community with a charming main street and a blend of residential, commercial, and industrial areas. The redevelopment of the historic Cheney Mills, now a National Historic Landmark District, has helped preserve the town's industrial past while attracting new businesses and residents.

This is what caught my eye; I hope you enjoy!

Center Congregational church was built in 1904.

A statue honoring Elizabeth Bennett on Main Street. Miss Bennett came to Manchester in 1909 to train other teachers and she was credited with many "firsts" in the Manchester public school system.

Colorful street mural

This building was once the Orford Hotel and then later Marlow’s Department Store. When it was the Orford Hotel, there was a huge restaurant on the first floor, hotel rooms on the second floor, and a ballroom on the top floor.

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Historic Tales of Manchester, Connecticut (American Chronicles)

By Kanehl, Robert

Connecticut Architecture: Stories of 100 Places (Garnet Books)

By Wigren, Christopher, Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation

Drawing Architecture: The beginner's guide to drawing and painting buildings

By Taylor, Richard

This is now called the rail trail, but it was originally the tracks of the family-owned railroad which transported the silk between the mills in Manchester and Hartford.

Mural along the rail trail

Cheney Hall was designed by C.H. Hammat Billings and dedicated in 1867. The Cheney Brothers Company not only employed people, but also supplied social services like housing, education and entertainment to its workers.

The Clock Tower Mill, originally called the Spinning Mill, was constructed in 1886. During World War II, the mill housed the Cheney Brothers Pioneer Parachute Company (founded in 1938). Today, this and other mill complex buildings have been converted to apartments.

Some of the buildings in the Cheney Brothers Historic District still carry their original name including the Yarn Dye House, The Velvet Weave Shed, the Velvet Mill, The Yarn Mill, Ribbon Mill.

The former Silk Vaults building has been converted into a self-storage facility. In 1919 there was an attempted silk heist here and the security supervisor, William Madden, was killed.

The Cheney Family members built themselves several beautiful mansions in this area of Manchester.

Some of the buildings that make up the turn-of-the century town center.

This building had all the signs of a former F.W. Woolworth store and when I went in for a closer look, I was right.

Another blast from the past

Some Main Street Storefronts

The Cheney Brothers donated the land, on Main Street. where St James Catholic Church was built. Construction was completed in 1876.

This bronze and stone Dancing Bear Fountain was given to the public by the Cheney Family in 1909 to honor Frank Cheney, the founding member of the Silk dynasty. The fountain was the work of sculptor Albert Humphreys and is in Center Memorial Park on Main Street.