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History of Thompson, Connecticut, USA
Journey back in time to Thompson, Connecticut, USA
(North Grosvenordale) (Quinebaug) (Fabyan) (Mechanicsville)
Visit Thompson, Connecticut, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and genealogy.
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One of the worst railway collisions in U.S. history — and the only one to involve four trains — happened in Thompson in 1891. courant.com
Although Thompson is one of the largest geographical areas in northeastern Connecticut (some 45 square miles) it has no one single center of identity. Instead, most of its residents identify themselves with the "village" that is closest to them.
Thus Thompson has become known as the town of 10 villages. The Thompson Historical Society has considerable information about each of the villages and its history, together with many photographs of each area and its denizens. The following is only a brief description of the most important or famous historical event in each of the villages. The villages are:
East Thompson
Site of the only 4-train wreck in the history of the United States. The wreck took place in 1901.
Wilsonville
Noted primarily for the Keegan Mill, originally built by Smith Wilkinson, which was a major employer in the area for some 100 years.
Fabyan
Originally known as "New Boston". Settled mainly by Swedish residents.
Quinebaug
Named after the Quinebaug River, which flows through the area.
Quaddick
Located next to Quaddick State Park, and famous for hardy souls braving the lake's cold water on the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Day swim.
Mechanicsville
Located along the banks of the French River.
Grosvenordale
Location of the Grosvenordale Mill, later owned by Belding Heminway Corp., and now being demolished to make way for other economic development.
North Grosvenordale
Originally developed as Masonville, a prosperous mill town typical of many New England mill towns, primarily settled by French Canadian immigrants and their descendants, but also home of immigrants from Greece, Romania, Turkey, and Sweden. The mill area was named after William Mason, whose family had developed the mills. William Mason built a magnificent mansion on Thompson Hill.
Thompson Hill
The earliest settled area in Thompson, and the early location of local industries. After the advent of the mill villages of Grosvenordale and North Grosvenordale, the industrial activity declined on the Hill, which became the residence of wealthy mill owners. Its reputation remains to this day.
West Thompson
West Thompson was a thriving area of farms and open spaces, until the flood of 1955, after which the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers flooded the village in order to operate a new dam to prevent further floods in the area.
www.thompsonct.org
There is MUCH more to discover about Thompson, Connecticut, USA. Read on!
Old Photos, Pictures, Advertisements and Postcards from Thompson, Connecticut, USA

Thompson, Connecticut, USA
Postcard

The Vernon Stiles Tavern, Thompson, Conn.
"...Built in 1814 by Stephen Tefft, Dr. James Webb, Noadiah Comins, and Hezekiah Olney, the inn began as one of many public houses in the area. After Captain Vernon Stiles purchased it in 1830, it became... Read MORE...

Thompson, Connecticut, USA
Postcard

Carolyn Hall Lodge. Thompson, Conn.
"Marianapolis Preparatory School was established in 1926, sponsored by the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception. The school is located on the former Ream Estate, built by Norman Bruce Ream, a... Read MORE...

Thompson, Connecticut, USA
Postcard

Grosvenordale, Connecticut, Hutchinson's Store, 1906
The Grosvenor Dale store is carried on by Mr. Thomas Hutchinson.
History of Windham County, Connecticut, Bayles, Richard M.; New York: W.W. Preston, 1889

Thompson, Connecticut, USA
Postcard

Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Jacob Tourtellotte and his wife Harriet funded the design and construction of the high school and presented it to the Town of Thompson in 1909... tmhsaa.org
Read more about Jacob Francis TOURTELLOTTE

Thompson, Connecticut, USA
Postcard

Howe Marot Jr. College
Mary Louise Marot was the daughter of Benjamin Marot and Helen Sowers. Marot graduated from the University of Chicago in 1894 and worked with the University Settlement while there. After graduation, she taught at Miss... Read MORE...

Thompson, Connecticut, USA
Postcard

The Grosvenor Dale Co., North Grosvenor Dale, Conn.
museumofcthistory.org

Thompson, Connecticut, USA
Postcard

Lower Village
French River Textile Co.
Mechanicsville, Conn.
museumofcthistory.org

Thompson, Connecticut, USA
Postcard

French River Textile Company's Plant, Mechanicsville, Conn.
museumofcthistory.org
History, News and Stories of Thompson, Connecticut, USA

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About Thompson, Connecticut
Thompson, Windham, Connecticut, USA
Although Thompson is one of the largest geographical areas in northeastern Connecticut (some 45 square miles) it ... Read MORE...
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1819 - Thompson
Thompson, a post township, is situated in the northeast corner of the county and State, 47 miles northeast from Hartford, and 26 northwest from... Read MORE...
1830 - 100th Birthday
The celebration of the hundreth birthday of a venerable citizen named Melatiah Mason, of Thompson, Connecticut, took place on the 30th ultimo. A... Read MORE...
Read more about Melatiah MASON-
1839 - Thompson
Thompson, Connecticut
Windham county. This town lies 47 miles E.N.E. from Hartford, 14 N. from Brooklyn, 27 W.N.W. from Providence, R.I., and 53... Read MORE...
1841 - THE LAST SOLDIER GONE!
Departed this life at Thompson, Connecticut, on the 12th ult., Mr. Ezekiel Blackmarr, in the 99th year of his age. He was the son of James Blackmarr, ... Read MORE...
Read more about Ezekiel BLACKMAR-
1854 - Thompson
Thompson, a post-township of Windham county, Connecticut, intersected by the Norwich and Worcester railroad, and drained by the Quinebaug and French... Read MORE...
1860 - Throwing Brickbats in Sleep
A young man residing in West Thompson, Connecticut, rose in his sleep, Sunday night crawled through the attic scuttle to the roof of the house,... Read MORE...
1865 - Counterfeit Notes
BOSTON, July 26. - Well executed counterfeit $10 bills on the Thompson Bank, of Thompson, Connecticut, are in circulation here. National Republican
Washington, District of Columbia
July 27, 1865
1868 - Isaac Sherman, of East Thompson, Conn., is building two paper houses, small sized, for tenements.
They are framed like other houses, and instead of being boarded or clap-boarded, the frame is covered with a firm manilla paper, as is also the roof. St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
July 11, 1868
Read more about Isaac SHERMAN1874 - A Curious Clock
A Thompson, Connecticut, clock company has shipped a curious clock to San Francisco, to be placed in the tower of the greatest hotel on the... Read MORE...
1875 - Shooting
A tragedy which grew out of a drunken row, occurred in Thompson, Conn., the 25th, when Edward Ryan shot John Keating in the breast with a revolver.... Read MORE...
1877 - Cure for Opium Habit
A resident of Thompson, Connecticut, publishes a cure for the "opium habit" that seems very simple. It is done by tapering off - diminishing the dose ... Read MORE...
1891 - FOUR TRAINS SMASHED UP - DISASTROUS ACCIDENT ON THE NEW-ENGLAND ROAD.
TWO FREIGHT TRAINS COLLIDED, THEN TWO PASSENGER TRAINS RAN INTO THE WRECK - THREE MEN KILLED AND SEVERAL INJURED.
PROVIDENCE, R. I., Dec. 4. - The ... Read MORE...
1895 - Wage Increase
The Grosvenordale Company, North Grosvenordale, Conn., has posted notices in all of its mills that they will increase wages in all departments after... Read MORE...
1896 - Cannon Exploded
PUTNAM, Conn., July 4. - Norton R. Williams was killed at North Grosvenordale this morning. A cannon which he as loading was hot and the charge... Read MORE...
1896 - Fire
Fire in North Grosvenordale, Conn., totally destroyed the two largest business blocks in the town, together with two barns and adjoining sheds. Loss, ... Read MORE...
1899 - FIRE AT EAST THOMPSON. Railroad Station, Engine House and Signal Tower Burned Down.
New London, Nov. 7. - The railroad station at East Thompson, Conn., on the main line, Midland division, of the Consolidated Road, together with the... Read MORE...
1903 - GIVES UP $15,000 SALARY. Because He Belongs to a Church With Strict Laws.
WEBSTER, Mass., April 1. - Agent Messenger, of the Grosvenordale cotton mills at North Grosvenordale, Conn., will today give up his place on account... Read MORE...
1903 - LIGHTNING KILLS A BANKER. James Elliott, President of Thompson Bank, North Grosvenordale, Conn., Struck While Walking - Daughter Escapes.
NORTH GROSVENORDALE, Conn., July 14. - James Elliott, fifty-five years old, President of the Thompson Bank in this town, was struck by lightning and... Read MORE...
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1906
North Grosvenor Dale, a post-village of Windham co., Conn., on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R., 40 miles N. by E. of Norwich. It has... Read MORE...
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1906
Thompson, a post-village of Windham co., Conn., in Thompson township (town), on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R., 38 miles N. by E. of... Read MORE...
1909 - Wage Increase for Thousand Workers
By Associated Press.
North Grosvenordale, Conn., August 3. - The operatives in the cotton mills here, numbering a thousand, are to receive an... Read MORE...
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1916 - Thompson
Thompson, a post-village of Windham co., Conn., in Thompson township (town), on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R., 38 miles N. by E. of... Read MORE...
1919 - Seeks to Settle Textile Strike
Washington - With more than 500 textile workers on strike in North Grosvenordale, Conn., the Department of Labor has assigned Commissioner of... Read MORE...
1923 - SUES FOR HUSBAND'S DEATH FROM LIQUOR
New London, Conn., July 31 - Mrs. Domicelle Anton, widow of Joseph Anton, of North Grosvenordale, this state, is bringing suit for $15,000 charging... Read MORE...
1927 - LIGHTS FIRECRACKER BY CIGARETTE, BLINDED
PUTNAM, July 4. - (By Associated Press) The Fourth of July celebration of Paul Aucoin of North Grosvenordale ended disastrously today, when a... Read MORE...
1927 - Auditors Find Deficit in North Grosvenordale Books
NORTH GROSVENORDALE, Dec. 9. - (By Associated Press.) An official report of the auditors, which has been awaited by townspeople for the past six... Read MORE...
1930 - SKIDDING MACHINE RESULTS IN DEATH OF FATHER LANDRY.
St. Thomas Aquinas’s Church Pastor Instantly Killed at Grosevenor Dale, Ct.
WOMAN IN HOSPITAL TWO CHILDREN UNHURT
Car Crashes Fence and Turns... Read MORE...
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1940 - Railroad Abandoned
April 11 - The New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co. abandons its rail line from Webster to East Thompson, Conn.
New Haven Railroad... Read MORE...
Thompson, Connecticut, USA Genealogy
Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Thompson, Connecticut, USA
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Ancestors Who Were Married in Thompson, Connecticut, USA
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Ancestors buried in Thompson - Cemeteries in Thompson, Connecticut, USA
St. Joseph's Cemetery, North GrosvenordaleGenealogy Resources for Thompson
1947 North Grosvenordale Directory, North Grosvenordale, CTMarriages of St. Joseph Catholic Church, No. Grosvenor Dale, CT, 1872-1990, Pawtucket, RI : American French Genealogical Society, c1992
Charpentier, Robert., Baptisms of St. Joseph Catholic Church, North Grosvenordale, CT, 1872-1990. Pawtucket, RI : American French Genealogical Society, 1995.
Burials of St. Joseph Catholic Church, North Grosvenordale, CT, 1872-1990. Pawtucket, RI : American French Genealogical Society, 1994, c1995
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