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Ernie
Senior Member
Username: ernie
Post Number: 494
Registered: 01-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 - 05:54 pm: | 
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Palmer started in Mianus, Ct. They talked of a location that used water power. I think most of us thought that it was at the Dam that is 3/4th of a mile above the Cos Cob, Ct location. After reading Dick Days comments about it being 2 or 3 miles above the Cos Cob location I started digging on the net with satelite pics and topo maps.
The dam that you can see from I95 that is just above the Cos Cob location was built by the New Haven RR in aprox 1905 to supply water for their power plant that is south of the tracks just below the Palmer Cos Cob plant. By 1905 Palmer was in Cos Cob so it most likely isn't that dam. From what I can find on the net there was only 1 other dam on the Mianus River. It is about 3 miles upstream from the Cos Cob location.
Pics are as follows:
1 the Palmer upper plant from one of their ads
2 aerial photo from 1934 showing what I assume was at one time the Palmer Upper works.
These are small size to fit here. Looking at the large versions there are a lot of similarities. I am ASSUMING that this is the upper location.
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Richard A. Day Jr.
Senior Member
Username: richardday
Post Number: 420
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 - 08:39 pm: |
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I think Ernie has shown that the Upper Works were not where Henry Zerbarini showed me by by the lower dam but have to have been at the next dam up river. Not only does the photo of the Upper Works show it was on the left hand end of the dam it was above the dam. The terrain at the downstream dam is such that no plant of the size indicated in the Upper Works photo could possibly be located there. Couple that with a 1905 dam construction date Palmer built their new boat shop in 1901 on the land of the old Palmer and Duff shipyard in Cos Cob. They started the new Machine shop in 1907 along side the boat shop and they were completely out of the Upper Works by 1910. Hopefully the Greenwich Historical society can come up with photos of the Upper Works. in its days of operation. |
Joe Ryan
Visitor
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 08, 2014 - 06:50 pm: |
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I have a news article from spring 1912 that says a group of investors purchased the "Palmer & Duff shipyard" for use in a business venture. I also have a reference to the fact that a gas works was proposed to be built on the site of the "Palmer & Duff's coal yard." Can you provide any historical information that covers these references for 1912-1915? I appreciate the Palmer Engine works continued in business into the 30s, so that entity must be distinct from those I mention. |
Ernie
Senior Member
Username: ernie
Post Number: 1889
Registered: 01-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 08, 2014 - 08:36 pm: |
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Palmer Bros Engine Company was firmly established in Cos Cob by 1905. They stayed at that spot till at least the late 60's.
I suspect the article you have is another business. Not Palmer Bros.
I Googled Palmer and Duff Shipyard and found quite a lot of reference to it. I also found a reference that the former shell of it was on a spit of land and now condos and a restaurant. I am assuming that they are referring to where Palmer Bros was. The condos and restaurant are all new. There may be one small building left from Palmer Bros however all of the major buildings were torn down before the condos and restaurant were built.
The Greenwich Historical Society was a big help when I was doing the research on the Palmer Upper Works Location.
That info is here
Hope this helps
Ernie |
Ernie
Senior Member
Username: ernie
Post Number: 1890
Registered: 01-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 08, 2014 - 10:07 pm: |
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Below are pics of Palmer Brothers Company in Cos Cob, CT from Ct aerial photography on the net.
One can plainly see that the Palmer Buildings lasted till sometime between 1970 and 1985.
One can also see that the condos are not in the shell of the old Palmer factory in the 1985 picture
1934
1951
1965
1970
1985
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Engine Silo
Member
Username: enginesilo
Post Number: 9
Registered: 07-2014
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 08, 2014 - 10:12 pm: |
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Great Info, Ernie! Thanks for sharing. |
