Lynda J. Russell - Bristol Business and Industry

George Mitchell was born in Bristol in 1774. In 1796, George and Thomas Barnes Jr. opened a general store on South Street. They supplied the peddlers products made in Bristol, including tinware, clocks, and woven goods. Mitchell ended his business with Barnes and opened his own store. As the demand grew for clocks, he helped Chauncey Jerome and Elias Ingraham come to Bristol to make clocks. Mitchells oldest son, Julian R. Mitchell, continued the store after his father died on July 29, 1892. (Courtesy of American Clock and Watch Museum.)

Ephraim Downs was born in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, on December 20, 1787. He came to Bristol with his wife, Chloe Painter Downs. Downs purchased a gristmill, pond, and home from George Mitchell and started manufacturing wooden clocks. Ephraim was elected town selectman and later represented Bristol in the Connecticut legislature. Ephraim died in 1860 and is buried in the Old South burial ground near Downs Street. (Courtesy of American Clock and Watch Museum.)

Downs Grist Mill, owned by Ephraim Downs, was located at the end of Memorial Boulevard. Ephraims son, Franklin, took over the mill after his father died in 1860. In 1877, Edward Rockwell built his factory called Bristol Liberty Bell Company on the site. Florence Downs Muzzy, a descendant of Ephraim, had a boulder placed in honor of both Ephraim and Franklin, which sits near the site of the original property. (Courtesy of Gary Potter.)

Irenus Atkins was born in Southington on November 15, 1792. He married Eunice Beckwith on September 14, 1814. In the early 1820s, he opened a clock shop with his brother, Rollin, in the old Baptist church near Divinity Street. In 1830, the church building was moved to the corner of Divinity and Park Streets. Irenus and his brother formed a clock company called I. and R. Atkins and Company. By 1832, the brothers changed to manufacturing saws. They continued until 1846 when the saw business was sold. Irenus went back to making clocks for 30 years with various partners. The Atkins Clock Company ended as a business in 1879. Irenus died on April 19, 1882. (Courtesy of American Clock and Watch Museum.)

This is a picture of the Atkins Clock Company when it was located on the corner of Divinity and Park Streets. In 1879, the building was sold to Barnes Brothers Clock Shop. In 1894, the building was destroyed by a fire. (Courtesy of American Clock and Watch Museum.)

When the Yankee peddlers first started selling their wares, they traveled by foot with their packs on their backs. Then they traveled by horseback. In the early 1800s, the roads improved enough to use wagons and carts. The peddler designed his wagon to carry many types of merchandise. When the clocks became popular, a wagon was designed to carry them. This Yankee clock wagon was used till the 1830s. (Courtesy of American Clock and Watch Museum.)

In 1828, in an old gristmill, George W. Bartholomew and his cousin, Eli Bartholomew, started making clocks. The mill was located on Maple Avenue in the section of Bristol known as Edgewood. George continued making clocks until 1844 when the building was destroyed by fire. Georges son, Harry S. Bartholomew, built a new factory in the same location. The business was now manufacturing augur bits and braces. In 1902, Harrys son, Joseph P., sold the business to the Stanley Rule and Level Company of New Britain. The factory was destroyed by fire in April 1918. (Courtesy of American Clock and Watch Museum.)

In 1844, clockmakers John Birge and Thomas Franklin Fuller formed a partnership. The business was located on Riverside Avenue and East Street. When Fuller died in 1848, a new company was formed called Birge, Peck, and Company. When their business ended in 1859, Solomon C. Spring purchased the building and continued making clocks under the business S. C. Spring and Company. In 1868, Spring formed a partnership with Elisha Welch forming a new company Welch, Spring, and Company. Eventually Springs equipment was moved to Forestville. This photograph was taken of Solomon in the 1860s. He died in 1906. (Courtesy of American Clock and Watch Museum.)

Wilfred Hopkins Nettleton was born in Waterbury in 1825. He came to Bristol in 1837. In 1850, he built this factory located on North Main Street. His factory made clock movements for the clockmakers and manufactured parts for sewing machines. In 1880, George Jones purchased the building and continued making clock parts, adding hardware gas meters and burglar alarms. The Ingraham Company was the next business in the factory. When New Departure Company moved out of Hiram C. Thompsons factory they used this building where they had more space and better equipment. (Courtesy of American Clock and Watch Museum.)