Frederick T. Stanley and the “Hardware City”

Stanley was born in Connecticut in 1802. One of seven children, he learned the New England Yankee work ethic at a young age while working on the family farm. By 1843, after brief stints in various manufacturing industries, Stanley co-founded the Stanley Bolt Manufactory,⁴ and later The Stanley Works in 1852.⁵ By the time of his death in 1883, The Stanley Works’ capital investment had increased more than tenfold, and the enterprise had developed into a well-known manufacturer of hinges, planes, bolts, bits and other tools.⁶

Stanley understood the importance of infrastructure in ensuring the growth and success of the Hardware City. In 1857, he helped design a modern waterworks. Despite much opposition from the people of New Britain, he continued to plan and promote infrastructure improvements.¹¹

Stanley also saw the growth of his personal enterprises into what was viewed as the best employers in New Britain.¹² He was steadfast in his purpose to transform the city into a modern manufacturing hub. His fellow citizens eventually came around and recognized his commitment to the city. “He has done more for New Britain than any one [sic] here,” they often said, according to a New Britain Herald article from the 1880s.¹³

While The Stanley Works has changed greatly over the past 175 years, its purpose has remained the same. Today’s STANLEY Infrastructure still builds and maintains railways and waterworks,¹⁴ ensuring that STANLEY’s customers – those who make the world – have the tools and infrastructure needed for guaranteed success.

^{[1] “The Town of New Britain, Hartford County, CT.” Map. In New Britain Historical Society. Philadelphia, PA: Richard Clark, 1851.}

^{[2] “The End at Last: Frederick T. Stanley, One of New Britain’s Honored Citizens, Dies Thursday.” New Britain Herald, August 03, 1883; Rodengen, Jeffrey L. The Legend of Stanley: 150 years of The Stanley Works. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Write Stuff Syndicate, 1996. 20.}

^{[3] Rodengen, Jeffrey L. The Legend of Stanley: 150 years of The Stanley Works. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Write Stuff Syndicate, 1996. 20.}

^{[4] Rodengen, Jeffrey L. The Legend of Stanley: 150 years of The Stanley Works. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Write Stuff Syndicate, 1996. 19.; “The End at Last: Frederick T. Stanley, One of New Britain’s Honored Citizens, Dies Thursday.” New Britain Herald, August 03, 1883.}

^{[5] Rodengen, Jeffrey L. The Legend of Stanley: 150 years of The Stanley Works. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Write Stuff Syndicate, 1996. 20.}

^{[6] Rodengen, Jeffrey L. The Legend of Stanley: 150 years of The Stanley Works. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Write Stuff Syndicate, 1996. 21, 36, 41}

^{[7] Wildham, Robert G. Welcome to Stanley Tools. New Britain, CT: Stanley Tools. Pg 2.}

^{[8] Rodengen, Jeffrey L. The Legend of Stanley: 150 years of The Stanley Works. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Write Stuff Syndicate, 1996. Vii.}

^{[9] Andrews, Alfred. Memorial. Genealogy and Ecclesiastical History. Chicago, IL: A.H. Andrews, 1867. 506}

^{[10] Levitt, Robert K. Foundations for the Future. The History of Stanley Works. New Britain, CT: Privately Published, 1951. 20.}

^{[11] Camp, David N. History of New Britain: with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut 1640-1889. Pg 482; “The End at Last: Frederick T. Stanley, One of New Britain’s Honored Citizens, Dies Thursday.” New Britain Herald, August 03, 1883.; Blomstrann, Lois. “Park offers glimpse at industrial past.” The Middletown Press. April 18, 2007. Accessed February 07, 2018. http://www.middletownpress.com/news/article/Park-offers-glimpse-at-industrial-past-11887520.php.}

^{[12] Rodengen, Jeffrey L. The Legend of Stanley: 150 years of The Stanley Works. Fort Lauderdale, FL: Write Stuff Syndicate, 1996. 43.}

^{[13] “The End at Last: Frederick T. Stanley, One of New Britain’s Honored Citizens, Dies Thursday.” New Britain Herald, August 03, 1883.}

^{[14] “Applications.” Stanley Infrastructure. Accessed February 07, 2018. http://www.stanleyinfrastructure.com/.}