New England Butt Company
The New England Butt Company is a three-and-a-half-story brick factory building with a monitor roof that brings natural light to the interior work spaces. Built in 1865 and designed by architect Spencer P. Read, it originally housed machinery and workers for producing wire braiding and hardware components.
The company was founded in 1842 by N.A. Fenner, Augustus Rathbone, and Charles Brown as the only factory in the country making cast iron butt hinges. By the early 1900s, the focus shifted to manufacturing wire braiding machinery that became a successful worldwide business.
The factory served as a workplace where manufacturing techniques and machinery were constantly refined. Its presence on Pearl Street reflects how industrial production shaped the urban landscape and daily work routines of Providence residents during the industrial era.
The factory is located on Pearl Street in Providence and can be viewed from the exterior, though appreciation requires interest in industrial history. Visitors should note this is a historic site with possible access limitations, so checking availability ahead of your visit is recommended.
Machines produced here were so durable that some remain in use by wire companies worldwide today. The technical drawings and production plans were later sold to other manufacturers and continue to help people understand how these machines operated.
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