Baltic, Connecticut

Baltic Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Former Baltic Mill Warehouse
Location	Roughly bounded by Fifth Ave., River St., High St., Main St., W. Main St., and the Shetucket River, Sprague, Connecticut
Coordinates	41°37′2″N 72°5′6″W / 41.61722°N 72.08500°W / 41.61722; -72.08500Coordinates: 41°37′2″N 72°5′6″W / 41.61722°N 72.08500°W / 41.61722; -72.08500
Area	122 acres (49 ha)
Architectural style	Greek Revival, Late Victorian, Queen Anne
NRHP Reference #	87001247[1]
Added to NRHP	August 3, 1987

Baltic is the town center village of the town of Sprague, Connecticut,^[2] and a census-designated place (CDP). The population of the CDP was 1,250 as of the 2010 census.^[3] The Sprague town hall is in Baltic. The Baltic Historic District is a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987, encompassing virtually the entire extent of the village.^[4]

History

Baltic was formed around a cotton mill established on the Shetucket River on land purchased in 1856 by former Rhode Island Governor and U.S. Senator William Sprague.^[5] The A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Co. mill burned down in 1887. Subsequently, Frederick Sayles of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, purchased the site and built the Baltic Mills Co. cotton mill, which opened in 1899. The company operated until 1963, when the mill was sold to a syndicate from New York. The mill continued operating until 1967, when it was closed and the property and equipment were sold. In 1970 the property was sold to the Casper Division of Bevis Industries, which used it for a mail order operation.^[6]

The historic district includes 208 contributing buildings and two other contributing structures over a 122-acre (49 ha) area.

In August 1999, the remains of the mill were destroyed by fire. There was only one building that survived although it was also critically damaged . It was soon after discovered that campus was set ablaze by three local boys. It lies empty and abandoned today.^[7]

Demographics

As of the 2010 census the Baltic CDP had a population of 1,250. The racial composition of Baltic was 81.0% white, 3.7% black or African American, 1.6% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.4% from some other race and 5.7% from two or more races. 8.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[8]

Events

Baltic is the site of a monthly Sprague River Run on the Shetucket River from April to October, which includes tubing and activities for children and adults.^[9]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in New London County, Connecticut

References

Municipalities and communities of New London County, Connecticut, United States Consolidated cities New London Norwich Towns Bozrah Colchester East Lyme Franklin Griswold Groton Lebanon Ledyard Lisbon Lyme Montville North Stonington Old Lyme Preston Salem Sprague Stonington Voluntown Waterford Non-consolidated city Groton Boroughs Jewett City Stonington Other communities Baltic Burnett's Corner Conning Towers Nautilus Park CDP Gales Ferry Graniteville Greeneville Groton Long Point Jordan Long Hill Lords Point Mystic Niantic Noank Norwichtown Old Mystic Oswegatchie Oxoboxo River CDP Pawcatuck Poquetanuck Poquonock Bridge Preston City Quaker Hill Taftville Uncasville