Illustrated Review

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW OF THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY. E~lBRACIKG : ANSONIA, DERBY, BIRMINGHAM, SHELTON AND SEYMOUR. _.\ RECORD OF 'THE DEV.ELOPl\IENT OF THESE CEN'fERS; 'THEIR PROGRESS IN COl\il\iERCE, l\L.\NUFACTURING AKD PQLITICA.L LIFE ; \\.ITH SKETCHES Or~ THEIR LEADINl; OFFICL.\L, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIO!\AL l\IEN. New York; So·fe1<eig11 P1.1alis1\i:qg <t1ld. Jh\~1<<t-fi1:1~ Go. 1890. HE world of to-day is the concentration and effect of all the thoughts, acts and energies of the past ages, and T the gradual development of the factors that combine to ·m~ke up modem eivilization, with all its accompani ments of social, commercial and political iife, can be traced only in those records that have, from time to time and from age to age, been left by those who successfully and faithfully portrayed the characters and conditions of men. This is as true of each community as of the entire race, and judged in this-the true light-the value and importance of a work on any factor of our commonwealth cannot be overestimated. The contemporary writer has far greater advantages and opportunities than those whose task it is to record, the events and portray the characters of a past generation. He -sees things as they exist, and has every facility for inquiry, and can instruct himself thoroughly in every detail; hence it is that contemporaneous writings are always most valuable in succeeding years and to succeeding recorders. Hence, also, the importa~ce-rarely realized at the time-of a faithful portrayal of the leading actors and factors in the social and commercial economy of the country. _.\nd in a country like the.. United States it is the civil history and development that must almost entirely occupy the attention of the student observant of his country's condition and progress. The aim and object of this work is to present in attractive form the salient features of certain communities and to place on record the factors and men whose force and characteristics have a material bearing upon both the present and future conditions of these communities. A succinct resume of the past history of these places is also added to give the work a wider scope and value. Owing to the prominence ana ever increasing importance of the trade centers located in that part of the Naugatuck ,ralley which lies about, or adjacent to, the confluence of the Housatonic and Naugatuck rivers, this work has been confined entirely to them, and the aim of the publishers has been to make the work in every way a worthy representative of these ambitious and progressive communities. THE PUBLISHERS. · ...... HE NAUGATUCK VALLEY extends from the wealth by supplying public wants and the needs of other T source· of the Naugatuck River to its junction enterprises, and to provide the means of livelihood to with the Housatonic. It runs through the State ·of a large and intelligent class of artisans and mechanics. Connecticut like a great thoroughfare through a city, Yet while filling this lovely valley with the hum of and both sides of this stream-street are lined with industry, Enterprise has not robbed it of its pristine establishments that send their wares over a great por beauty, but has rathe·r added to its attractiveness and tion of the earth's surface.. _.\Jthough the articles man- enhanced its charms,_ by •alternating its tree-fringed ~ SCENE ON THE NAUGATUCK RIVER. ufactured in this fertile belt are almost innumerable, heights and fairy vales with noble monuments of man's metal products predominate, and some of the plants skill and energy. devoted to the manufacture of brass, iron and copper Famed for its varied and picturesque scenery, this are in every respect among the finest in the world. ,alley possesses many points of attraction worthy of This famous Valley has been selected by man note. Of these High Rock is one of the most notable. ufacturers, in many lines, as the scene of their opera It is a favorite resort for picnickers and pleasure seek tions-an<l wiselv so as is attested bv the areat sue- ers, and the scenery is wil<l anc.l enchanting. Castle .; ' .. :.:, cess of the various industries along its factory-fringed Rock, near Seymour, is 200 feet high, and its bareness banks. Here genius, enterprise and capital haYe united is a striking contrast to the fertile valley abo'\·e which to produce an endless variety of useful articles, as well it towers. ..\ succession of fine cascades is to be seen as the machines to manufacture them ; to build im at Sherman's grove, and, indeed, almost every mile of the mense factories and tall chimneys ; to accumulate ,-alley supplies new and pleasing prospects to the eye. 8 ILLUSTRATED REVIEW OF THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY. The rapid waters of the Naugatuck afford ample ANSONIA. and cheap .motive power ancran unfailing supply where steam is used. The banks of the stream .offer innumer Ansonia is an enibryo city and among the commu able fine sites for factories, while, geographically; the ters of the Naugatuck Valley is superseded by Water valley is convenient to both of the great trade centers bury alone. Anso~ G. Phelps was the founder of the of the East, New York and Boston. village and the place bears his Christian name. On The widened valley formed by the confluence of April 16th,,,, 1889, the township of Ansonia was set off the Naugatuck and Housatonic rivers is peculiarly from Derby and has a government of its own, with offi- adapted to the requirements of manufacturers, as well ces in. Ansonia. The borough was incorporated in as affording large space for building purposes; and about 1864, but the charter was amended in 1871 and revised this point a cluster of ent~rprising, prosperous and in 1887. - ., progressive commercial communities have grown up. Twenty. years. before the in~orporation of the VIEW OF RAILROAD AND RIVER, NAUGATUCK VALLEY. Of these Ansonia is the largest and lies on the Nauga borough, sagacious business men had discovered the tuck less than two miles above the confluence. ·r hough advantages possessed by this point for manufacturing at present these communities are separate and inde operations, an_d the copper mills now known as the An pendent, each possessing a charter and local govern sonia Brass and Copper Company were started. In --· - ment of its own; it would seem that time and the 1848 the \Vallaces established the enterprise that is to- growth of which they give promise would ultimately day both an important and attractive feature of the unite all these places into one proud city. place. The Farrell Foundry and others followed, and a · Steamers formerly ran up the Housatonic as far steady prosperity, growth and expansion has been ex as Derby, and it is claimed that the first iron steam perienced by all classes of manufacturers in this thriv er in America plied between New York and this point. ing and industrious borough. Some of the concerns This mode of ·communication, however, virtua11y ceased have doubled their capacities and output during the after the·Monitor, a $30~000 't"essel, ~:is sunk by a col past d~de, and wares from Ansonia find their way to lision· off ·New York. In 1888 the proprietors of the nearly every port in the civilized world; and this suc Electtic Road built a steamer to run on the Housatonic, cess of the manufacturers of important articles in a lo but at present there is no steamer plying on this route, cality peculiarly adapted to manufacturing purposes is nor is such needed, owing to the fine railway facilities a guarantee of the continued growth of Ansonia in both enjoyed. population and wealth, for while the established indus- ANSONIA. 9 holding the reputation or being one or the best fire companies in the State. Some of the leading men of the borough are members of it. This compani~as organized in 1871 as the Eagl~ ·Hose Co. A Hook and ~adder company was subsequently connected with it and the presen·t name adopted. A.nsonia is the terminus of the Derby division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, and also lies on the line of the Naugatuck Railroad. It has thus competitors to carry its freight, and is within twenty minutes' ride of both New Haven and Bridge port, the two greatest ports of ~onnecticut. The social institutions of the place are clearly in dicative of its intellectual life, and its schools and church buildings are equal to those of many larger places. The \Vardens of the borough, since 1865, have been: . \Vl!. B. BRISTOL; D. F. HOADLEY, tries thrive and increase new enterprises will be at EGBERT BARTLETT, J.B. QUILLINAN, . tracted to the place to add to its prestige and augment ROBERT PECK, H. A. SHIPMAN, its growth. MICHAEL ,v ALSH, JNO. B. GARDNER, The population, according to the late census, is over CHAS. F. WILLIAMS, R.H. TUCKER, 10.000, and the growth of A.nsonia has not been of the HENRY B. \VHITING, J. M. \VHEELER. mushroom kind. All has been constant and regular, and is enduring, permanent and sta- CA,~v ...1C. ble. .. There is over four million dollars of capi tal invested in the manufacturing enterprises of this place, outside of the millions represen ted by the factory buitdings and plants, in which about four thousand operatives find employment. The Naugatuck River runs through the place, and the manufacturitg establishments are all on the east side of the stream, while West A.nsonia is a healthful and attractive residence portion of the borough ; but there are many handsome and even palatial resi dences on the east side, and the whole local ity is extremely healthy, for, while lying in the valley, the quick waters of the Nauga tuck afford the best kind of _drainage, and a •· large proportion of the dwellings are situated on the graceful slopes or stand on top of the tree-crowned hills that afford most pleasing views of the picturesque Yale through which the Naugatuck glides on its way to the sea.

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