After having made no property tax payments in several years, the Town of Stratford foreclosed on the Contract Plating property and businesses March 1, 2013. The foreclosure opened the door to the property being cleared of its buildings and toxic waste stored on the property to be removed. Demolition of the once flourishing manufacturing facility began October 29, 2015, as part of an Environmental Protection Agency super fund site clean up.
Contract Plating opened for business in 1918 at 540 Longbrook Avenue. The Contract Plating site is 10.5 acres in size. Soon after the company began business, Raymond O’Connor, a Naugatuck native and metallurgist at Chase Brass Company in Waterbury, joined Contract Plating. Raymond immediately made an impact at Contract Plating, and in 1922 he married Veronica O’Neill (Stratford), who was the daughter of Contract Plating’s Manager.
Raymond held many positions at Contract Plating and was named Chairman of the Board in 1970. Raymond was not just a major influence on Contract Plating, he contributed his time, money and influence to the Town of Stratford. Contract Plating supported Little League teams, mens’ and womens’ athletic teams, church and community groups and, along with the Contract Plating employees, raised a great deal of money in support of United Way.
Raymond was named “Man of the Year” in 1952 by the Raymond Goldbach VFW, and in 1964 Raymond was named Ringmaster of the Barnum Festival. Raymond was the first President of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, a position he held for five years. Raymond actively pursued the Theater Guild to help convince the Guild to locate the Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford. These are just a few of the ways Mr. O’Connor and his employees made an enduring mark on our Town.
As a company, Contract Plating was a principal partner of Sikorsky Aircraft. In 1964, it was estimated that Contract Plating, along with other plating companies in the Bridgeport area, contributed $4 billion to the local economy.
At the time of his passing in 1973, Mr. O’Connor was remembered by many for all he and Contract Plating had contributed to the Town. By the early 21st Century, Contract Plating was reduced to a shell of its former self at 540 Longbrook Avenue.
