| Additional Information: | In the fall of 1902, the Burlington Brass Works was founded by Gustav C. Rasch, O. O. Storle, and John P. Gill to manufacture an industrial steam valve patented by Gill. A 30-foot by 60-foot, brick foundry was constructed at 432, 442, 446, 448 & 450 S. Pine Street.
In 1903, Storle sold his share in the company to Louis H. Rohr. Gill gave over his portion to Rasch in 1904, who later sold his interest in the company to Charles Bernard McCanna by 1906. An addition was constructed onto the foundry in 1907. A second addition, measuring 75-feet by 150-feet, was constructed in 1909. After McCanna’s death in 1913, his leadership was succeed by his son, Charles Roy McCanna. The company built a new office addition in 1931. Additional offices, storage space, and shipping rooms were constructed in 1936.
In 1944, a 35-foot by 100-foot addition was built on the south side of the foundry. Burlington Brass Works was awarded two Army-Navy Production Awards, one in 1944 and the other in 1945, for its production of 75mm, 3-inch, and 90mm shells during World War II. A new 10,000 square-foot artillery shell manufacturing addition was constructed on the west end of the foundry in 1951, for production of 90mm shells for the Korean War.
Burlington Brass Works was sold to Central Metal Company of Plainville, Connecticut, in 1975. By that time the company manufactured faucets, plumbing valves, and other custom products for the electrical, gas utility, air conditioning, and diesel engine industries. Operations were moved to Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1979. Today the foundry building is occupied by a variety of retail outlets of the local charity Love Inc., as well as Lakes Area Gymnastics. |
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