On a recent visit to Connecticut, my sister suggested we explore the town of Cheshire in search of interesting doors. Along the way, we discovered a neglected factory with a series of red garage doors, broken windows, and a cracked cement driveway that once housed the Ball & Socket Manufacturing Company.
Curiously, on the left-hand side of the decaying complex, a rustic, wood-sided red building was decorated with a long row of colorful, framed paintings and an artistically transformed entry door.
As it turns out, three local artists and co-founders of an organization called Ball & Socket Arts, purchased the factory in 2011. Their mission is to transform the factory and grounds into an arts and entertainment complex, offering gallery, performance, education, retail and dining spaces. To learn more about this worthy project and see stunning photographs of the inside of the old factory check out their website BallandSocket.org.
In case you are wondering why the factory was called “Ball & Socket Manufacturing,” a “ball and socket” is what we call a “snap” fastener today – where the ball snaps into the socket. The site was a working factory for almost 150 years, from 1850 until 1992, dealing in buttons of every description. Folks in the town of Cheshire used to say, “sooner or later, everyone works at the Button Shop.” While buttons are no longer made here, it’s great to see a new life is in the works for the former factory.
Inspiration: Thursday Doors.
Capturing Moments 
I love places like this, what a terrific find 🙂
Thanks, Norm. It was a totally random find and the highlight of our day. There are many neglected former industrial sites in CT waiting to be found. I’ll keep looking whenever I visit New England.
Donna
Ah, am glad I can reach you this week! That’s a great space for artists – and I know this is one of their strategies to have enough space for their art (I should know!) Happy you found this for us!
I’m glad you had a chance to stop by this week. This will be a great space for artists. I love how they’ve displayed artwork on the exterior of the building. The inside of the factory (from photos) is very cool. I hope the group gets lots of support from the community. I’ll look forward to checking their progress every year when I’m back east.
Donna
What an amazing find!! I love that the artists have preserved the building and transformed it with their flair. 🙂
Thanks! It truly is wonderful that this group of artists have invested in the old factory. I can’t wait to see what they’ve accomplished next time I’m back in CT.
Donna
I was feeling sad about the building until I saw the framed pictures, read your story, and saw the rest of the post. I love that they’re doing this.
janet
Janet, It does look sad at first glance. We almost passed by without stopping. I’m glad we stopped. It was heartwarming to learn that these artists are investing in transforming this space into something special.
Donna
What a great find! It brought to mind Athens Academy of Fine Arts located in a former textile factory. The buildings there are also covered in very interesting graffiti. It is great when these neglected and abandoned industrial sites get a new lease on life.
Thanks, Debi. I haven’t seen Athens Academy of Fine Arts. Very cool that they located to a former textile factory. I’ll add this to my list of places to see in Athens!!
Donna