A special thank you to Lynne M. Barrelle, Grove Foote, Jack Sanders, John Sturges, John Robie and many others from around the World that have forwarded these images to me. A complete history of the Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Co. in pictures is a wonderful addition to the site.

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Have pictures you'd like to include? Email them to bcolley@colleyweb.com or call me at 860-364-7475, I can scan the images if you'd like and get them right back to you in less than a week.

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Two years after the passing of Edwin Gilbert "The Miller Era" was in full swing with the further expansion of the upper factory buildings. The building show here is on North Main Street and was built between 1908 and 1910. Many of the buildings in the upper factory were built during the Miller Era- 1906-1954.

Major David H. Miller (Left) became President with the passing of Edwin Gilbert. He joined G&B in 1853 working his way from bookkeeper to director and secretary in 1874, then becoming Secretary and Vice-President in 1880. He held the position of President-Treasurer from 1906 until his death in 1915. He served the company 62 years. Major Miller's son Samuel J. Miller (Right) was the next President in 1915. He had joined the firm in 1869 as an office boy, and became superintendent, secretary, general manager, director, and vice-president. He served as president until his death in 1936. He was with the company a total of 67 years!

North Main Street 1910. North Main St. housed many of the executives and managers of G&B. The house on the near right was home to both Edwin Gilbert and Samuel Miller. *It is interesting enough to note that during this time period the elite of Georgetown, almost exclusively people associated with the company, lived in the midst of their workers. Ethnic neighborhoods did exist, but employees were encouraged to occupy, or build houses next to the mansions of the managers and officers. And while it would be expected that the workers would live near the factory it was most unusual to find upper-class houses in the same location.

Edwin Gilbert House on North Main St.

An early view of Smith Street. South of the managers' residences these house were built by the company's more affluent employees. The house on the right would be torn down to make way for the new 107 in the 1950's. In addition to these two streets- Portland Avenue and New Street were also a direct result of the factory's success and the increasing number of employees at the factory.

Connery's Store c. 1900. To serve the needs of the growing number of employees of G&B there were quite a few small markets in the area. Connery's and Perry's market were two of the earliest and most popular. Connery's began in 1882 when Michael Connery bought the general store for $240. The price included everything but the dry goods part of the store, which was purchased several years later. Connery's would serve the Georgetown community until 1973. Other markets of note: A&P, Georgetown Market, Kearn's Store, Tankus's Clothing store, Sabillio's market, Hammelscamp's meat market, Perry had a second market over by Kearn's store too.

Old G&B School around 1912. This building was expanded several times to accommodate the growing community.

Rare view of the old and new G&B Schools. The company erected this school building for the community in 1915-16 and deeded it to School District #10. The fine up-to-date building was a model for every school building committee to follow, and was a fitting memorial to those who had the best interests of Georgetown at heart. After a lapse of 100 years, the children of Georgetown and Boston districts attended the same school as Georgetown residents who did not live in the "Wilton section" could apply for and be granted permission to attend. In the 1960's this school was operated by the Wilton School Board, school district number 10 was discontinued in 1964.

Rare view of the G&B Buildings and Portland Avenue in the 1920's.

The Georgetown Volunteer Fire Company was organized in May of 1928 by a group of men who realized the need for fire protection in the community. The first Fire House was a converted horse barn that was given to the Volunteers by the Gilbert & Bennett Mfg. Co.

The company's business suffered severely after the market crash of 1929. Not only were sales extremely low, but more competitors were after what little business was available. The directors decided that modernization of buildings and equipment was essential to compete profitably on the established product line and to develop new products to beat out competitors. Shown above is the wire cleaning and coating process.

High speed reverse twisters, 10 times as fast as the previous twisters. Just one example of the equipment added to modernize the factory following the lean years following the market crash.

D. Henry Miller III (Left) became the President of the company in 1936. The son of Samuel J. Miller, he joined the company in 1904, was appointed secretary in 1915, and director in 1932. D. Henry Miller III, died in 1954. The Miller Era had ended however the son-in-law of David H. Miller II, John H. Mulliken (Right) was appointed President. Mulliken in 1937 became a director and joined the firm in 1941 as the treasurer. He was in charge of the company's modernization program and in 1947 was appointed Vice President and Secretary.

In the next section we showcase the company's
"experiment" in China, October 1992.

John Moore Collection; Tryde Photo's ; Redding Times Photo's ; Tour Present Day Georgetown

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