409 canal in the 1840’s
Founded in 1854 by brothers William, Henry and Charles Clark, the Clark Brothers Bolt Factory became one of the region’s most established manufacturers. The company specialized in carriage bolts and produced a wide range of industrial fasteners, including bolts, nuts, washers, screws, and rivets, supporting the growth of American industry and helping establish Milldale as a center of manufacturing in Connecticut.
AA fire destroyed the Clark plant, office, and warehouse in 1893, but the company quickly rebuilt in Southington at 409 Canal Street, constructing a 100,000 square-foot facility. In the post-World War II era, Clark Brothers faced increasing competition from lower-cost imported goods. Like many of the dozen bolt manufacturers that once operated in Southington alongside the Clarks, the Clark Brothers Bolt Factory ultimately closed its doors in 1987 after 133 years in operation.
As the company prepared to cease operations, office personnel sorted through decades of accumulated materials stored throughout the facility. To preserve its legacy and contribute to the historical record of local manufacturing, Clark Brothers donated records, photographs, and artifacts to the Southington Historical Society. Today, these materials remain available to researchers interested in exploring Southington’s industrial history.
In the early 2000s, new owners acquired the property and have since worked to restore and reposition it as a prominent business center in Southington.