parizek's brothers' mill, trask road
Mill building with dam in the background
Waterway: Conant Brook
Water power: Turbine
Mill type: Button shop
Water power: Turbine
Mill type: Button shop
History: This is one of two button shops operated by the Parizek family. It was constructed in the early 1920’s. Known as the Parizek Brothers Button Shop, it produced ocean pearl buttons. When ocean pearls were unavailable during World War II, the mill was one of two mills that remained open but converted to manufacturing plastic buttons. The shop ceased operations in 1952. At this writing, additional information has been located on possible previous mill activity at the site. It will be added when verified.
Site Characteristics: Parizek Pond provided the source of power for a turbine located in the northwest corner of the mill building. The mill building is a 4,074 square foot building located on the east side of a 325 foot east west oriented dam. A concrete spillway is located approximately in the center of the dam and was rebuilt in the early 2000s. An emergency spillway is located on the west end of the dam. The button mill was powered initially by a large C.P. Bradway turbine and was later converted to diesel power. A pipe under the dam acted as a head race. The building is being used for storage by the current owner.
Additional Sources of Information: Upcoming book on Willington’s Lost Mill Sites
William Parizek Narrative, Button Factory Equipment, May 1990
Produced by the Willington Historical Society
Site Characteristics: Parizek Pond provided the source of power for a turbine located in the northwest corner of the mill building. The mill building is a 4,074 square foot building located on the east side of a 325 foot east west oriented dam. A concrete spillway is located approximately in the center of the dam and was rebuilt in the early 2000s. An emergency spillway is located on the west end of the dam. The button mill was powered initially by a large C.P. Bradway turbine and was later converted to diesel power. A pipe under the dam acted as a head race. The building is being used for storage by the current owner.
Additional Sources of Information: Upcoming book on Willington’s Lost Mill Sites
William Parizek Narrative, Button Factory Equipment, May 1990
Produced by the Willington Historical Society
William Parizek, 1926 at the Button Factory
Courtesy of the Willington Historical Society
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Parizek Pond looking upstream
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