TIME CAPSULE’
‘AMERICAN PICKERS’ EXPLORES DOWNTOWN NORWALK’S HOUR PRESS BUILDING AND HISTORY
Many Norwalkers are familiar with the Hour Press building on Commerce Street, but soon folks across the country will learn all about it in an episode of the History Channel’s “American Pickers.”
On Jan. 25 the “Pumps, Prints & Pics” episode will highlight the history of downtown Norwalk and the Hour Press building owned by Nathan and Gloria Dillard.
“American Pickers” is a reality series that follows the two hosts, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, as they travel across the nation searching for forgotten antiques.
Nathan Dillard said he couldn’t reveal too much of what will air in the upcoming episode, noting, “Obviously, I want people to see the show,” before adding that he discusses his newspaper property and the antiques inside it with the hosts.
After a series of COVID-19 tests, the “American Pickers” cast and crew came to shoot the episode with the Dillards in October. Nathan said he had a “fantastic” experience shooting the episode with Wolfe and guest host “Jersey Jon” Szalay.
“What you see is what you get,” Nathan said. “They showed up and it was lights, cameras, action!”
Nathan said he doesn’t have any regrets about the items the “American Pickers” cast selected.
“I look at it this way: I’d like to keep everything, but unfortunately, I can’t. I love all of those things that I parted with, but it’s one of
those things where I know it’s going to a good home.”
The Dillards have lived in Norwalk for the last 20 years, since they returned to Gloria’s hometown to be closer to family. Nathan, who works in real estate, said the couple previously purchased and renovated the Phoenix Engine 1 and the John Keena family grocery buildings on Commerce Street. After renovating them, the couple rented them out.
“My wife and I live down here on Commerce Street as well, so we live, eat, breathe and sleep the neighborhood,” he said.
Nathan said they recently purchased the Hour Press building from the Bredice family, after his friend Michael
Bredice died last year.
“I had a relationship with the owner for a good 20 years. I used to go down there on a regular basis and sit and talk with Michael about life, history, Norwalk, family, and we just developed a really great bond.
“Unfortunately, he passed away last year,” he said. “I talked with the family about it, and I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase the property. It’s been in the same family for 90 years.”
According to Nathan, the Bredice family purchased the building in 1930, during the Great Depression. The newspaper building had previously been used for other business ventures, including a cigar factory during the
late 1800s.
The two brothers who started the Hour Press used to work for the Norwalk Gazette. Nathan described the building as a “time capsule,” noting the family “saved everything.”
The Dillards reached out to “American Pickers” about their trove after acquiring the building. Nathan, who said he’s “basically a picker,” thought it was a “no brainer” to reach out to the show.
He added that he’s always had an interest in history and thinks Norwalk has a rich past to explore.
“It’s just one of those unique properties that shouldn’t even exist in Fairfield County, as densely populated as the area is. You don’t get many of those old mom-and-pop businesses that still exist that have all of this stuff in it that’s historical to the town.” he said.
“It’s one of those great neighborhoods that lie in Fairfield County that I think is kind of like one of the last frontiers. When you think about it, we’re surrounded by various affluent towns in this county, and a lot of people come to Norwalk for the restaurant scene and the historic South Norwalk. You can see there’s activity going on down here.”
In addition to sharing some of the Hour Press’s forgotten treasures on “American Pickers,” the Dillards have donated some of their finds to the Norwalk Historical Society and the Norwalk Fire Department.
Nathan said he donated original minute books from the Phoenix Firehouse/Hope Hose No. 2 on Commerce Street to the fire department, They dated back to the 1860s to 1870s and 1909 to 1944.
“It’s just really neat history that was kind of lost and sitting for years,” he said.
An old room key on a wooden key chain labeled “14 Norwalk Hotel, Norwalk Connecticut” was donated to the historical society. The hotel was located on Wall Street (at the My Three Sons location) and predated the Civil War before it was torn down in 1925.
Nathan said the key chain had been hanging on a nail at the Hour Press since the 1930s.
“It’s probably the only artifact from the actual hotel that still exists besides photographs,” he said.
For more information about the episode, visit history.com.