1847 Frank Cheney developed a machine that significantly sped up the spinning process. By the 1860s the Cheney Brothers were an international leader in the business. In South Manchester, the Cheneys practiced what was termed welfare capitalism, intending to provide a comprehensive living and working environment for their workers. When they needed to improve the water supply for their factories, the facilities were used to provide water to residential areas as well, and the Cheneys' electric company also provided power to a much larger area than the factory. Churches were built on land donated by the company, as were schools and other public facilities. The Cheneys' silk business began to decline in the 1920s with the advent of synthetic fibers, and was further hurt by the Great Depression. The company sold off its utilities and much of its housing. The Cheneys sold the business in 1954, which continues to operate at a much smaller scale within the factory complex. The district was designated a National Historic Landmark and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The mills had a cultural impact on Manchester. The city seal focuses on silk and a local baseball team was named the Silkworms. See also Ward Cheney Howell Cheney List of National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut National Register of Historic Places listings in Hartford County, Connecticut References External links Cheney Brother Historic Landmark District, Manchester Historical Society Manchester, Connecticut National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut Historic districts in Hartford County, Connecticut Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut Silk mills in the United States National Register of Historic Places in Hartford County, Connecticut Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut