STATEMENT OF ROBERT KOHN, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF COLT GATEWAY LLC BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, RECREATION, AND PUBLIC LANDS OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES
April 8, 2003
Thank
you for the opportunity to appear before your committee to present the
views of Colt Gateway LLC and Homes For America Holdings, Inc. on H.R.
437. This bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
study of the site commonly known as "Coltsville" in the State of
Connecticut for potential inclusion in the National Park System.
An Introduction
As the Chief Operating Officer of Colt Gateway LLC, a subsidiary of
Homes For America Holdings, Inc., I strongly support a study to include
Coltsville in the National Park System. Coltsville's national
significance, suitability and feasibility for designation as well as
the importance of the site to the historic preservation of an American
legacy make this site an ideal candidate for inclusion in the National
Park System. In my opinion, there are few more deserving locations for
the National Park designation than Coltsville. Coltville's fascinating
history, its impact on innovation and American history, its positioning
as the home of Elizabeth Colt as one of the first female
industrialists, the site's compatibility with other nearby National
Parks and the momentum, planning and financing currently in place to
make this Park a reality... all are persuasive grounds for supporting
this study.
The Coltsville Study Area
Coltsville is a 17-acre community in Hartford, Connecticut built around
Samuel and Elizabeth Colt's firearms factory during the Industrial
Revolution of the 19th century. Currently owned and operated by Colt
Gateway LLC, the site itself contains ten historic buildings, portions
of which are occupied by both commercial and residential tenants,
including a large number of artists who live and work in the complex.
Colt Gateway LLC is currently conducting a substantial $102 million
historic rehabilitation and preservation of the site, in full
accordance with national historic standards. The East Armory building
within the site, with its landmark red brick building and distinctive
blue onion dome, would serve as the ideal center for the Park
Easily accessible from Interstates 91 and 84, Coltsville runs parallel
to the nearby Connecticut River and is within walking distance of the
Hartford central business district. Within the immediate area are
former buildings that housed Colt workers as well as splendid Victorian
homes such as Armsmear, which served as the home of Samuel and
Elizabeth Colt and is now a National Historic Landmark. Other
attractions in the immediate area help to make Coltsville even more of
a destination, including the houses of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher
Stowe, the Museum of American Political Life, the Colt Memorial and of
course the riverfront. Other significant nearby attractions include the
State Capitol, the Museum of Connecticut State History and the
Wadsworth Atheneum museum, which stores vast collections of
Colt-related artifacts and archives.
A Brief History of Coltsville
Samuel Colt, born in Hartford in 1814, lived the life of a legend. With
his first patent in 1836, he founded a company that played a leading
role in the Industrial Revolution. Construction of the Coltsville
factory began in 1847 and expanded throughout the mid-19th century,
including the construction in 1855 of the armory's distinctive blue
onion dome, a Hartford landmark visible from I-91. In order to attract
laborers, Colt built a self-contained community surrounding the factory
that included housing, gardens, and entertainment halls as well as a
library, school, church and social hall. Many of the structures still
exist today and are part of the Colt Industrial National Register
District that was listed in 1976.
Samuel Colt died in 1862, and two years later the factory burned to the
ground. In a fascinating example of one of this country's first female
industrialists, Elizabeth Colt took over the factory and ran it
successfully for another 40 years. In fact, Samuel Colt's most
recognized accomplishment, the Colt 45 Peacemaker, was not actually
developed or manufactured until ten years after his death. Elizabeth
presided over the company during its most prosperous years, in a period
when men dominated the industrial world. Her significant contributions
to American industrialism make Coltsville distinct from other
historical sites and establish a broader base than the history of
munitions manufacture. This is a place where a dynamic woman seized the
helm of her husband's company, steering it to ongoing success through
the manufacture of innovations that changed the face of American
history. Elizabeth Colt gives the site a central story, broad utility,
a greater audience and a compelling reason to visit.
Coltsville Innovation & Impact on American History
Coltsville is most known as the birthplace of a concept that
transformed the firearm from a single shot device into a multiple shot
device and changed the course of American economic and military
history. The Colt revolver was a revolutionary weapon that changed
military tactics and eventually made all weapons that came before it
obsolete in combat.
Coltsville's unique and considerable impact on Connecticut and New
England is clear. The skills developed in firearms manufacture were
given broader application here. Developments in arms-making influenced
other metalworking industries, such as sewing machines, typewriters,
bicycles, automobiles, railway equipment, jet engines and clocks. Early
industrial leaders like Henry Ford came to Coltsville to learn the
innovative manufacturing techniques and equipment being developed in
the area. The corridor between New Haven, Connecticut and Windsor,
Vermont became known as "Precision Valley."
In addition to the impact on Connecticut and New England, Coltsville's
impact in America and abroad cannot be understated. As the first
American to set up a foreign manufacturing plant, Samuel Colt's
influence was extended overseas. Ambitious entrepreneurs with big
ideas, Elizabeth and Samuel were willing to take risks and work hard to
shape the future and to reap the rewards. In doing so they have powered
American capitalism. The Colt legacy is not just about firearms, but
also about industrial innovation and the development of technology and
a system of manufacturing that would change the way of life in the
United States. That same spirit of innovation today powers all of
American industry and can be seen in such sectors as information
technology, medical research, biotechnology, defense technology, public
relations and many others.
Today, the Colt name is known throughout the world. Colt firearms and
other products have been used in every major conflict - from the
U.S.-Mexican War to the present. As such they have been an integral
factor in the security, confidence and self-reliance of this country.
The impact on Coltsville in this arena confirms our conviction that
Coltsville should be designated a National Park.
The National Park: A Preliminary Plan
A national park at Coltsville would ideally encompass all seventeen
acres of the Coltsville site and would include both public and private
space. The centerpiece would be a visitor center within the armory,
including original steam-driven pistons and the accessible blue onion
dome that provides 360° views of Hartford, the Connecticut River and
surrounding areas. Coincidentally, this armory already houses a
business that manufactures replica Colt firearms, which would only
enhance the proposed museum. The interactive museum could be housed in
Building 8 and/or 10, which are two of the oldest buildings on the site
and originally served as the factory's foundry and polishing rooms. The
museum and visitors' center would be dedicated as public space for the
Park. The remaining commercial and residential space would be left
private.
It is important to note that because Colt Gateway LLC is already in the
process of privately restoring this national treasure, the cost of
designating Coltsville would be minimal. A comprehensive $102 million
historic preservation in accordance national historic standards is
currently underway. As the developer, Colt Gateway LLC would prepare
virtually all the space required, giving the National Park Service the
rare opportunity to add a spectacular park to the system with an
investment and operating costs at a fraction (less than 10%) of the
value of the site. It is our opinion that, please forgive the pun,
Coltsville gives the National Parks System a real bang for the buck.
The tourist interest sparked by the Coltsville Park would work in
tandem with other endeavors stimulating business growth, such as the
adjacent Adriaen's Landing project, to contribute to the continuing
economic revival of Connecticut's capital city. Lowell, Massachusetts
is a good example of what a national park can do for a city. The
textile mills and canals at Lowell have been described as must-see
attractions in tourist guidebooks. I believe that if Coltsville is
designated a national park, the same will be said about the Colt armory
and its surroundings. Moreover, the history of Colt complements that of
the Springfield Armory National Historic Site just 25 miles north in
Massachusetts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is my opinion that it is not only feasible and
suitable to include Coltsville in the National Park System, but that
Coltsville is the ideal candidate for that inclusion. We are committed
to preserving Coltsville's immeasurable historical value, and we
certainly appreciate the Committee's consideration of this proposal. We
are eager to work with the National Park Service in any way we can to
continue this process.
While we acknowledge the budgetary and scheduling obstacles of our
request, we believe that the overwhelming bipartisan support for
designation is a sign that we are well on our way to preserving
Coltsville's legacy. Support from public officials such as Connecticut
Governor John Rowland and Mayor of Hartford Eddie Perez as well as from
important civic groups in Connecticut and elsewhere has been
considerable. I would also like to commend Representatives Larson,
DeLauro, Shays and Simmons as well as Senators Dodd and Lieberman for
their leadership and integral role in supporting Coltsville.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to comment. We will do all we can
to assist you, Mr. Chairman, and all the members of the Committee, to
make this a reality. This concludes my prepared remarks. I would be
glad to answer any questions that you or the members of the committee
may have.