Eaton, Crane & Pike Company Factory
Also known as: Terry Clock Company Factory
Why it's listed
Rising beside the West Branch of the Housatonic River in Pittsfield, this factory complex grew from a clock-tower building of 1883 into a group of brick and wood-frame mills up to eight stories tall, with the last major addition in 1967. The first occupants included the Terry Clock Company and the Pittsfield Tack Company. In 1893 the property was bought for a stationery business led by Arthur W. Eaton, which expanded through several reorganizations, including the 1908 partnership with the Crane family that created the Eaton, Crane & Pike Company. By the 1920s it was reputed to be the largest American firm devoted solely to stationery, and in 1929 it employed about 1,500 people. The original building is valued as a Late Victorian factory with a mansard-roofed clock and stair tower, while the later buildings show how the plant adapted to changing paper-industry needs. Paper production continued until 1987, and conversion to commercial and light industrial space began in 1989.
Significance in brief: The original 1883 building is a prominent local example of a Late Victorian brick factory with a central mansard clock and stair tower. The complex is also significant for the history of the stationery and paper industry and for its role in Pittsfield's economy, where the company became the city's second largest employer for much of the early 20th century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90001166, listed August 3, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 75 S. Church St., Pittsfield |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | August 3, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001166 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1883-1939 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Single industrial use ended in 1987 when the Sheaffer Eaton division moved out; conversion to commercial and light industrial use began in 1989, with rehabilitation work planned or underway. |
| Acreage | 6.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.44655, -73.26000 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90001166.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5331322
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.