Simsbury Center in Hartford County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
The Ensign-Bickford Company
Photographed By Alan M. Perrie, August 12, 2019
1. The Ensign-Bickford Company Marker
Invented by Englishman William Bickford, the safety fuse was used to detonate blackpowder in mining operations. The name of the new company was Bacon, Bickford, Eales & Company.
Until 1851, manufacture of the safety fuse took place in nearby East Weatogue. Following a fire that destroyed the factory later that year, Joseph Toy acquired control, moved operations to this site and changed the name to Toy, Bickford & Company. After Toy’s death, his son-in-law Ralph Ensign formed a new partnership under the name Ensign, Bickford & Company.
The company expanded from fuse and blasting products for agriculture and mining, to develop a range of such products for use in World Wars I and II.
Community minded, the company built housing for its employees, helped establish municipal water and electricity services and provided the Hopmeadow area with fire protection until 1944. It continues to maintain an important presence in town.
Today the Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc. compound is shared between one of its subsidiaries, Ensign-Bickford Aerospace and Defense, and a former joint
this page online
Erected 2019 by The Simsbury Bike Trail.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • War, World I • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.
Location. 41° 52.053′ N, 72° 48.374′ W. Marker is in Simsbury, Connecticut, in Hartford County. It is in Simsbury Center. Marker is on Hopmeadow Street (U.S. 202) 0.1 miles south of West Street (Connecticut Route 167), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 640 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury CT 06070, Simsbury CT 06070, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Weatogue Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away); Gifford Pinchot Birthplace (approx. 0.4 miles away); Connecticut Charter Oak Descendent (approx. 0.4 miles away); Second Hopmeadow School House (approx. half a mile away); Simsbury Revolutionary War Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Eno Memorial Hall (approx. half a mile away); Simsbury Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Simsbury Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Simsbury.
Also see . . .
1. Ensign-Bickford Aerospace. (Submitted on October 7, 2019, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut.)
Photographed By Alan M. Perrie, 8
2. The Ensign-Bickford Company Marker
2. William Bickford on Wikipedia. (Submitted on October 7, 2019, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut.)
3. Dyno Nobel on Wikipedia. (Submitted on October 7, 2019, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2019, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 628 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 7, 2019, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
