New London in Southeastern Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Industry
Hempstead Historic Neighborhood
The Hempstead district became a mixed-use neighborhood in which light industry, stores, and home businesses mingled with residences. This meant that people could satisfy many needs close to home. Tradesmen, craftsmen and professionals who had jobs downtown, or the waterfront, or with the railroad, could walk to work.
The block facing Hempstead Street between Garvin and Home Streets was once given over entirely to industry. Between 1845 and 1879, William L. Warner operated a tannery at the corner of Hempstead and Garvin (then High Street). The tannery property was sold in 1882 to a company that manufactured an odd Patent Crane Umbrella. New London investors, who hoped that this invention would sweep the world, were disappointed after initial success, and by 1901 the factory was demolished.
The presence of these industries gave the neighborhood a working class character. The tannery was accused of causing a "sickening odor," and for reasons such as that, the
this page online
Few traces remain of industries that once employed as many as 200 workers. A small granite building, possibly a stable, remains from the former tannery. While the once-extensive manufacturing complex has been leveled, a tenement that the Patent Crane Umbrella Company built for its employees survives at 34-38 Hempstead.
[Captions:]
An 1876 perspective view shows some of the industry that existed in the vicinity.
The New London Wash Silk Company operated in this spacious building with 17,000 square feet of floor space.
Erected by Connecticut Humanities Council. (Marker Number 9.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.
Location. 41° 21.197′ N, 72° 6.18′ W. Marker is in New London in Southeastern Region, Connecticut. It is at the intersection of Hempstead Street and Home Street, on the right when traveling east on Hempstead Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 36 Hempstead Street, New London CT 06320, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Connecticut Shoreline and in the Thames River Valley. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New London County and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Stephen Hempstead (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Adam Jackson
Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 177 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 29, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
