Hazard Powder Company facts for kids
The Hazard Powder Company was an American company that made gunpowder and explosives. It was found in Hazardville, Connecticut, which is part of the town of Enfield, Connecticut.
Contents
History of the Powder Company
The Hazard Powder Company started in 1835. It was founded by Allen Loomis. He built a small mill by the Scantic River in a place called Powder Hollow. The next year, he formed a company called Loomis, Denslow and Company.
How Gunpowder Was Made
The company made powder from saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal. These ingredients were carefully mixed to create the powerful explosive.
Growth of Hazardville
Workers lived in a town called Hazardville. The town was named after Colonel Augustus George Hazard. He joined the company in 1837. He helped it grow into a huge gunpowder maker.
The company changed its name in 1837 to Loomis, Hazard & Company. In 1843, it became the Hazard Powder Company. This happened when Colonel Hazard bought out Loomis.
Supplying Wars and Gold Rushes
The company made more and more gunpowder over the years. This was because of wars and events like the Mexican–American War. They also supplied powder for the California Gold Rush in 1849. During the Crimean War, they sent gunpowder to both Britain and Russia. They shipped 500 tons to Britain alone!
During the American Civil War, this mill was very important. It was one of the top three gunpowder suppliers for the Union army. They made up to 12,500 lb (5,700 kg) of powder every day.
Peak and Decline
At its busiest, the Hazard Powder Company had 125 buildings. These buildings covered hundreds of acres of land. They used 25 water wheels and three steam engines. These were spread along a mile of the Scantic River. The company also had other mills in East Hartford, Connecticut and Canton, Connecticut.
After the Civil War, the business started to slow down. However, Hazardville still had about 1,500 people living there in the 1890s.
End of the Company
Hazard Powder was one of the biggest gunpowder companies in the United States. Other large companies were DuPont and Laflin & Rand Powder Company. DuPont gained control of Hazard Powder in 1876. This happened after Colonel Hazard passed away in 1868.
The plant became part of Hercules Powder Company in 1912. This was due to a law called the Sherman Antitrust Act. This law broke up large companies like DuPont. The Hazard Powder plant closed for good after a huge explosion. This explosion happened on January 14, 1913. It destroyed much of the factory.
