History of Millane Nurseries
Our Story
Over the past 90 years, Millane Nurseries has been growing and providing nursery-grown trees and shrubs to clients and customers primarily throughout the Northeast. In 1913, Cornelius A. Millane, Sr. (Neal) started his tree service in New Haven. In 1918 the business moved to Main Street in Middletown. With little more than a small truck, a rope and hard work, he built a residential and commercial tree service; pruning, spraying, cabling and removing large trees along the East Coast. The nursery began in 1923 when he purchased property on Main Street in Cromwell (the site of the current Corporate Office, Commercial Contractors/wholesale yard, and our Garden Center). Through the depression he continued the tree service and heavily promoted the expanding nursery.
Neal, III Connie Laura Michael
From the 1970's through the 2000's, the Millane Family of Connie (Cornelius A. Millane, Jr.), Neal (Cornelius A. Millane, III), Michael, Laura (Michael's wife), along with Glenn Sliker, expanded nursery operations and our Garden Center. We widened our market area and grew our customer base; we increased our field and container growing as well as woody propagation; we greatly increased our selection of annuals and perennials; we added regional and national direct-ship programs, as well as numerous hard goods including Okatsune pruning tools and horticultural related giftware; supplied weatherproof, laser printable outdoor label materials to nurseries and garden centers nationwide; and we are proud to say that we accomplished many higher quality plant production techniques.
In conjunction with high-quality arboriculture as well as new and improved methods of nursery production, over the last eight decades the company has provided other professional services such as commercial, highway and residential landscaping, large tree moving, horticultural consulting as well as complete lawn care.
For almost a century, Millane Nurseries and Tree Experts has literally changed the face of Connecticut and much of New England. From landscaping the CT State Capitol Building and the Merritt Parkway to supplying many of the plants for our interstate highways, state and local roads, cities, towns, parks, golf courses, cemeteries, office parks, commercial projects, businesses of all sizes and countless private residences, the Millane family has left a legacy of natural beauty for generations to enjoy.
Old Millane Offices
Before Cromwell Middletown Office circa 1922
This second-floor office was located on Main Street in Middletown from 1918 until 1923.
Landscaping in Hartford in the 20's |
Millane Trucks in the 20's |
Cromwell Office circa 1927
In 1923, Neal Sr. purchased property at 604 Main Street in Cromwell. Our current location, still, today. The large tract of land allowed him to branch out into the nursery business.
Cromwell Office in the 1930's
The addition of a white-picket fence and formal landscaping at our current location.
Cromwell Photo circa 1935
A full blown nursery takes root on the land surrounding Neal Sr.'s Cromwell office.
Cromwell Office in the 1940's
Neal added to his office building, upgraded his signs, and continued to expand his nursery field plantings.
