Rubber Industry

The Naugatuck River Valley in North-western Connecticut is one of the most prolific sites of manufacturing in the state. The town of Naugatuck is sometimes referred to as the cradle of the rubber industry due to the invention of “metallized gum elastic” by Charles Goodyear. The Goodyear name is now synonymous with rubber goods especially tires. During World War One the some 30 plants of the U.S. Rubber Company produced boots, tires, hoses, and other rubber goods for the US government. The U.S. Rubber Company would also continue to buy out other rubber manufacturing companies such as Harford Rubber Works in 1917 to monopolize on the industry. Seen here, workers are shaping rubber boots before preparing them for hardened soles to be attached. These boots would go on to provide US and allied servicemen much needed protection from the wet, damp trenches in Europe.