The Underwood Computing Machine Company Factory

The Underwood Computing Machine Company was founded in New York City in 1909 by John T. Underwood, who was then the president of the Underwood Typewriter Company. The company specialized in manufacturing calculators and accounting and billing machines for commercial use. Early production facilities were located in Hartford's Chamber of Commerce building on Hawthorne Street before the company sought new quarters.

The company began developing the current site at 56 Arbor Street in 1917. After purchasing the facility in 1927, the company was acquired by Elliot-Fisher in 1928. Elliot-Fisher moved production to a larger facility on Capitol Avenue, and the site was converted into a training, research and development facility in 1936. The company was later purchased by Olivetti in 1959, which closed the facility in 1969.

The main building is a four-story brick structure 325 feet in length. It features projecting stair towers at the north end and at the corner of Arbor and Orange, featuring brownstone corner quoining and windows set in recessed panels. The main walls consist of rows of windows set in segmented-arch openings separated by brick piers, and one of the principal building entrances has Art Deco stylistic elements.

Since 1969, the site has been rehabilitated and repurposed. The complex, which covers 2.9 acres bounded by Arbor Street, Orange Street, and the CTfastrak busway, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. It currently houses the artistic collaborative Real Art Ways along with other organizations.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons