Baltic, Connecticut

Baltic Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Former Baltic Mill Warehouse
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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″N72°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 No.	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 was 1,250 as of the 2010 census. ^[3] The Sprague town hall is in Baltic. The Baltic Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987, encompassing nearly the entire 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 Senator William Sprague III. ^[5] The A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Co. mill burned down in 1887, and Frederick Sayles of Pawtucket, Rhode Island purchased the site. He 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 210 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. The fire was set by three local boys. ^[7] The mill suffered another fire on April 23, 2018. Fire officials said that hot sparks hit debris from citing pipes,^{[ clarification needed ]} likely sparking the flames of the fire. ^[8]

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. ^[9]

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. ^[10]

See also

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

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Baltic, Connecticut
3. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Baltic CDP, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved October 29, 2012.
4. Matthew Roth; Bruce Clouette; Robert Griffith (November 1986). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Baltic Historic District". National Park Service.
5. Sprague Archived June 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , State of Connecticut historic marker (1974)
6. Dennis Delaney, Town of Sprague Municipal Historian, 2005, A Little History: Baltic, Connecticut Archived June 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine , Town of Sprague website, accessed October 26, 2009
7. Goldberg, Lisa (August 13, 1999). "Police Say 3 Local Boys Admit Roles In Fire That Destroyed Baltic Mill". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016.
8. "Fire crews from 21 departments battle Baltic mill fire | Connecticut News | wfsb.com".
9. 2010 population by race and Hispanic or Latino by place chart for Connecticut from the US Census
10. "Sprague 2009 Volunteer Opportunities". Archived from the original on July 15, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2009.