Cat Hollow

Hidden away in the town of Danielson, Connecticut, there’s a little tucked away road that was once a main way to mills, and main source of waterpower, that helped shape the town. The mills along the Whetstone Brook include the once thriving Sayles and Sabin Mill, a.k.a - Cat Hollow Mill, Killingly Worsted Mill, and the Elmville Mill, which is better known today as the Danielson Manufacturing Company.

Cat Hollow Trail

The trail is perfect for walking, biking, even for strollers, as most of walk way is still paved. About halfway down the trails you will start to stumble upon what remains of the mills.

Whetstone Brook

The Whetstone Brook, which has a 70’ drop within the first 200 yards, was the one main source of power, water-power, to the early settlers of the town of Killingly. In 1917, the first settlers of Chestnut Hill had built a sawmill at the eastern end of Whetstone. With the continuous flowing of the brook, it brought the mills to life and became a source for many small cotton and wool mills in the industrial age in the 1800’s. This beautiful and very functional water source helped make the town of Killingly one of the greatest cotton manufacturing towns in Connecticut in 1836.

Elmville Mill: Danielson Manufacturing Co.

In the early 1800’s the Dexter Mill was built and became a woolen mill; completely powered by a water wheel. In 1877, a fire burned through the building, causing it to shut down. Today, there now stands a 50’ x 175’ long, three-story brick building that took its place. This mill, like all the others, changed hands multiple times. In 1935, it became the Danielson Manufacturing Company; which produced leather goods. The building is now used for mainly storage, however still remains mostly unchanged since the day it was built.