the area was primarily farmland through much of the 19th century, and was one of hartford's last areas to develop. the largely rural residents tried to secede from hartford, claiming they were over-taxed merely because their land was not as developed compared to more industrial areas such as nearby frog hollow. however, by 1873, michael kane established a brickyard off new park avenue, and heralded a period of industrial development that would stimulate rapid growth in a previously isolated part of the city. the kane brickyard quickly became one of leading brick-makers in the state, providing materials for projects such as trinity college, the travelers tower, the hartford times building, the state library and the connecticut state capitol building. the subsequent decades saw several major factories set up shop in the area, including the pope manufacturing company, underwood typewriter company, royal typewriter company, the gray pay telephone company and hartford rubber works. as underwood and royal expanded in the early 20th century, hartford became known within some circles as the "typewriter capital of the world."