Dan Antion

Collinsville Doors – #ThursdayDoors

I really like the details of the porch and the entrance.

Continuing our journey east from the Goshen Fair and up Rt-4 in search of doors, we have one more stop to make – Collinsville, Connecticut. I will probably offend a few people (at least one that I know of) as I quote from Wikipedia:

“Collinsville is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Canton, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,746 at the 2010 census. The central portion of the village is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

It was built around the Collins Company Axe Factory, a world-renowned manufacturer of edge tools, such as axes, machetes, picks and knives.”

Whether Wikipedia is right or wrong, doesn’t matter. The point worth noting is that there are 169 cities and towns in Connecticut and a large percentage of them were formed around a manufacturing company, or a group of manufacturing companies that comprised an industry. Collinsville is not one of the 169 towns in CT, but Canton is. This is the nature of our state – it’s small and historically, people have seemed driven to make it smaller.

OK, end of history lesson, we’re here to talk about doors. The nice thing about these little villages is that most of them have a central area with a handful of historic buildings, a historic mill building and a historic church or two. Those buildings all have at least one door. If I’m lucky, those doors haven’t been replaced with an aluminum frame and a sheet of glass.

On our way home from the Goshen Fair, Faith added a stop in Collinsville specifically to help me find some doors. That might make her an enabler, but I appreciated her driving me around. It was a hot and humid day and she was an excellent doorscursion driver – she even parallel parked in Collinsville so we could get out and walk along the main street – that’s generosity.

Speaking of generosity, I should mention the founder of this particular feast, Norm Frampton. Each week, Norm gives us the opportunity to join him in gathering and sharing a collection of doors from tiny towns in small states, big cities and whole countries. People come to Norm’s gallery from all over the world. They bring their doors and they add them to the mix. If you like doors, visit the gallery. If you like photographing doors, come to Norm’s place and click the blue frog. He’ll show you how to join the pageant.

Boiler doors in Collinsville. CT
I love fire escapes and they usually have doors.
In there day, these doors would have emptied wagons, trucks and perhaps train cars.
On the side of the Collins Company Axe factory.
There’s my driver alongside the former Collins Company Axe factory building
One of the remaining doors of the former Collins Company Axe factory.
We went through those doors. It took about an hour for us to return to the outside.
I don’t think this is a functional door at this time, but…
I was attracted to the brick work and the curves.
Well, yeah, the mailbox.
Two doors, and a mail box. Which is more interesting?
How about those porches?
Canton Town Hall. I love the details in the brick work.
I really like the details of the porch and the entrance.
I grew up around lots of brick buildings.
I think this is an apartment building.
Well maintained, brick building.
I don’t know what this building is, but I like it.
There’s an art gallery in the basement, but I also like the barn door on the left.
Canton Town Hall.

58 comments

    • I knew, as soon as I took those pictures, that those would be the ones people would like. The boiler door is wonderful, but I so wanted to move that car out of the way.

      Thanks for the comment and thanks again for filling in for Norm.Enjoy the visit!

      Liked by 1 person

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  5. Looks like the pursuit of doors leading you off on another great adventure. My favourite is the boiler door and I’m sure most of us relate to your desire to get that car out of your photo. So annoying when you asee a great photo and there’s something in the way. I’ve lost count of the number of times power poles have got in my way.
    Best wishes,
    Rowena

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    • Thanks Rowena. I think we should have special rights to move things in order to get a better picture. It seems that my family understands that events that require travel, may require stopping for doors.

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  6. Nice doors, Dan. I especially like the red barn part of the former axe factory. It seems to me something interesting could be done with it, but not sure what. Maybe a place for someone to fix up and live? Apartments?

    You already have a leg up with cool doors (living in a historical part of the country), but when you add in a driver who’s willing to enable, that’s a big bonus. :-)

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thanks Mary. I will include more shots of the mill complex in a future post. I thought they had sold the building and that it was to be turned into apartments, but it still shows as being for sale. One of our vendors (a design firm) is in that building. I would be a cool place to work.

      Having a driver who supports your habit is a big plus! She was great,.

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  7. What a treasure trove! Those boiler doors are gorgeous! Oh, and SO MANY arches, SO MUCH beautiful brickwork. I love that axe factory door with the bias–glad I don’t have to hear my husband cussing as he cuts them to fit.

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    • It’s funny that you mention the cussing. Sometimes, I am drawn to doors because I know how they were made, and I appreciate the effort that went into them. Especially given that the time period meant they were working with hand tools.

      I love those boiler doors.

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  9. Hi Dan – I love the little towns, with their history wrapped around them … the white porch and door looks so well maintained … yet the others welcome us too … delightful little tour – cheers Hilary

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  11. What’s not to like? LOVE the boiler doors, the mailbox, the grillwork on the steps by the mailbox and all the beautiful brickwork. Amazing craftsmanship. On the Canton Town Hall, the way the brickwork is done, it looks like brick shingles! Just love it. Let’s not forget those incredible porches. And those old barn doors.
    🔹 Ginger 🔹

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    • Thanks Ginger. I love brick, and iron and wooden doors so this was like my happy place. If only I could have moved the car in front of those boiler doors. I love when they lay the brick in an unusual or decorative pattern. The talent to do that, by eye – just amazes me.

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  15. That’s a neat place, definitely worth stopping for doors. (Yay, Faith, thanks from all of us!)
    Love the broiler doors, the letterbox, details in the brick and the axe company doors! Love that old red weathered wood. Charming as all get out. Great doors!

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    • Thanks! Faith was an excellent driver – fully enabled was I. The area is really wonderful. The mill complex is for sale, may end up being something else at some point. I like all those things, especially the details in the brick.

      Liked by 1 person

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  17. Just the driving / walking around part – exploring and discovering – is what makes an outing perfect, especially when you have a great partner-in-crime with you. When fine buildings and doors are found, it’s just icing on the cake 🙂

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  23. The boiler door picture is really good. Every Thursday my knowledge about New England improves a bit thanks to you. Lovely pictures that go along with it.

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