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THE STORY OF NORWALK

NORWALK -- Hats, pottery, corsets and dozens of other products
are included in the rich history of manufacturing in Norwalk. Dating
back to the 18th century, the seaside location has long been regarded
as a prime location for industry, which has thrived for generations of
employees.

"Norwalk was a hub of activity," said Historian and Norwalk Library volunteer
Ralph Bloom. "The city has been in the manufacturing business for hundreds
of years. The oldest industry to be documented is pottery, it may even have
been made here before the Revolutionary War," Bloom said.

Aside from pottery, one of the largest industries in Norwalk was hatting. "It was
the biggest industry we ever had," Bloom said. "There were hat shops here from
the 18th century to 1960 that employed about 4,000 people in Norwalk.

Norwalk's seaside location was a contributing factor to the success of
businesses in the city, Bloom said. With the waterfront, the onset of the
railroad, and trolleys or "street railroads" as they were formerly called in the
city by the 1860s, Bloom said businesses (both small and large in size) were
situated in the perfect location.

"Norwalk wasn't a commuter town back then, it was a manufacturing
city," Bloom said. "Now it's the opposite.” Oystering, or aquatic
farming was and still is one of the largest industries in Norwalk.
"One of the great things about oystering in Norwalk is that there
are hundreds of acres of islands in the harbor, which shelters
them," Bloom said.

Of all of the oystering companies, only a few remain.
Other notable Norwalk industries include the
Burndy Corporation, which had a major part in
the manufacturing of the Hubbell telescope,
E. Lockwood & Sons, which started out as a
shipping and general store and switched
to a real estate company that was
located on the current grounds of
Fat Cat Pie on Wall Street.