Mechanic Street Historic District, Industrial neighborhood in Pawcatuck, Connecticut.
Mechanic Street Historic District is an industrial neighborhood in Connecticut spanning 147 acres with fourteen blocks of structures along the Pawcatuck River's western bank. The area contains seven major mill buildings mixed with numerous residential homes, most dating to the 1800s.
The area began as a shipbuilding center in the early 1800s and shifted to textile manufacturing after the railroad arrived in 1837. This change from waterfront shipyards to inland textile mills transformed the economic character of the entire district.
The rows of homes along these streets show how worker housing changed over time, from early owner-built houses to later rental tenements as the mills expanded.
The district lies north of West Broad Street and is easy to explore on foot, with factory buildings and residential streets clearly laid out. Visitors can walk along the riverbank area to see how the mills and homes relate to the water and streets.
In 1934 the Lorraine Manufacturing Company purchased many of the worker houses and held auctions that allowed many tenants to become homeowners. This unusual decision gave factory workers a rare chance to gain property ownership in their own neighborhood.
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