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Early Development
Early Development
There is not as much written about the early development of Wilson and Deerfield as there is about the other neighborhoods in Windsor. For the purposes of this site, Wilson and Deerfield are grouped together, since they have a similar early development pattern. The first road from Windsor to Hartford passed south through Wilson. However the Wilson area was slow to grow, partly because it was located farther away from the larger Palisado and Windsor Center settlements. These larger settlements were also nearer to the palisado fort, which offered protection to its inhabitants. The Matianuck Indian tribe had farmed in the Wilson area for many years, and they continued to do so until 1634, when an epidemic of smallpox wiped out the tribe.
Farms and Bricks
Farms and Bricks
When the second road, called the upland road was built in 1638, it passed through what is now Deerfield, then into Wilson, and then south to Hartford. Farms and brickyards sprang up along this road, and brickmaking became a major industry of the village. The area got its name from the influential Wilson family that lived there from the mid 1600's. The Wilson's owned and operated the largest brickmaking facility in the area, and were also major landowners. Many of the brick homes along Windsor Avenue were built from bricks produced at these brickyards.
Suburban Development
Suburban Development
In the late 19th century, a trolley line was built which connected the Wilson area to Hartford. The character of Wilson began to change into a more suburban environment, since people could now easily work in Hartford and live in the suburbs of Wilson. At one time there was also a train stop in Wilson, known as Wilson Station, and this also contributed to the suburban character of the village.
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