Simsbury Center in Capitol Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
The Ensign-Bickford Company
Photographed by Alan M. Perrie, August 12, 2019
1. The Ensign-Bickford Company Marker
Now known as Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc., the company traces its origins to 1836, when Simsburys Richard Bacon formed a partnership with an English firm to manufacture a product called a safety fuse.
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 Toys 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
this page online
Today the Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc. compound is shared between one of its subsidiaries, Ensign-Bickford Aerospace and Defense, and a former joint venture partner, Dyno Nobel.
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 in Capitol Region, Connecticut. It is in Simsbury Center. It 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.
Regionally, this marker is in the Connecticut River Valley, in Greater Hartford, and in the Knowledge Corridor. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it
Photographed by Alan M. Perrie, 8
2. The Ensign-Bickford Company Marker
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.)
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 May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2019, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 1,294 times since then and 79 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.
