Hydeville, Connecticut facts for kids
Hydeville is a small, quiet part of the town of Stafford, in Connecticut, United States. It's located right by a stream called Furnace Creek. Long ago, this area was also known by another name: Haydenville.
Hydeville's Early Days
Hydeville has an interesting past, especially when it comes to making things!
The Old Iron Furnace
Back in 1799, a special factory called the Lafayette blast furnace was built in Hydeville. A blast furnace is like a giant oven that melts metal. This one was used to process "bog iron," which is a type of iron ore found in swampy areas.
This furnace was very important because it's believed to be the very first one in Connecticut to make cast iron stoves. Imagine, stoves for cooking and heating homes, all made right here! The furnace worked for many years, but by 1840, all the local bog iron had been used up, so it had to close down.
Life in the 1890s
By the 1890s, Hydeville was described as a small village. It had only a few houses and a woolen mill, which is a factory that makes cloth from wool. About 130 people lived there at that time.
Many of the houses were "tenement buildings." These were large buildings divided into several smaller homes or apartments, where different families could live.
Local Businesses and Changes
A company called Wilson Woodworks used to be in Hydeville. They were known for making wood flooring. However, they later moved their business about 30 miles southwest to the town of Windsor.
