Old Waterbury Clock headquarters

This old building is left abandoned, next to a renovated section of the factory now used as low-income housing. Waterbury Clock, through its subsidiary Ingersoll, made the first Mickey Mouse watches. Thousands of people throughout the 20th Century worked for the factories in and around Waterbury. When the company created glow-in-the-dark clock hands they used a paint that had radium in it. Women workers would moisten their paint-laced brushes between their lips. Many contracted illnesses and died. The retirement for an unskilled worker who spent 30 to 40 years in a local factory could be as low as $300 a month. Many of those who still survive and are able to, work bagging at Stop and Shop or other supermarkets to supplement their income.