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A Look Back in
Time
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Marlborough
Mills
Burned March 1, 1907
From
Marlborough, Connecticut
1715-1953
Henry W.
Tuttle, Editor |
The heart of
what is now Marlborough was
the crossroads of two
well-traveled routes.
During colonial times, North
and South Main Streets were
known as Hockanum Path and
Monhege Trail, and travelers
used this route to go from
Hartford to New London.
Route 66 was a cart path
that took farmers and their
crops to Middletown for
transport on the Connecticut
River. Travelers found this
crossroads to be an ideal
place for rest, refreshment,
and a change of horses.
Both Sadlers Ordinary and
the Tavern offered such a
haven during this period.
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The Birth of a Town
In 1747 William Buell and Joel Foote
petitioned the Colonial Government
to form an Ecclesiastical Society.
Two years later, they began building
the First Congregational Church.
The Church was finished in 1803, and
on October 13 of that year, The
General Assembly incorporated a new
town from parts of Glastonbury,
Hebron, and Colchester. The name
for this town was taken from
Marlborough, a borough of Wilshire,
England. In December of 1803,
Marlborough’s first town meeting was
held, and in March of 1804, the
Selectman Committee met for the
first time at the Tavern.
Marlborough as a
Center of Industry
As Marlborough continued to grow,
businessmen and manufacturers were
attracted to its rich resources.
During the mid-1800’s Marlborough
experienced a dramatic boom of
growth and prosperity due to the
addition of a number of textile
mills. By 1845, the population had
risen to 832. However, it appeared
this heyday was not meant to last.
During the Civil War, the demand for
cloth dropped severely, and several
mills were forced to stop their
production, while others burned
down. By 1907, the mills were gone
and Marlborough returned to its
former roots as a sleepy farming
town. In 1910, the population had
dropped as low as 302 people. It
seemed as if Marlborough had been
forgotten by the rest of the State,
and it remained that way for the
next 50 years. However, despite
these changes, the sense of
community remained strong. Families
were born, worked the land, lived
their entire lives, and died in
Marlborough.
The Rediscovery of
Marlborough
In 1964, a new highway was opened,
setting Marlborough on yet another
course for change. With two exits
in Marlborough, Route 2 paved the
way for the town to be discovered
once again. Young families who
worked in Hartford, just like their
colonial counterparts so many years
ago, were captivated by the quiet
beauty and simple life that
Marlborough had to offer. It wasn’t
long before many began calling it
home. During the years that
followed, Marlborough experienced
another boom. Neighborhoods and
developments sprang up, and the town
saw a return of businesses,
restaurants, shops, and even some
industry. This period of growth
continues to this very day. Curious
travelers stop at our crossroads,
discover all that this unique town
has to offer, and decide to make
Marlborough their home.
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