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This is an old postcard of the Enfield High School on North
Main Street. Sadly, this building no longer exists. It was destroyed by urban renewal in the 70's. A building of more modern
character was built in it's place.It serves as an activity center in modern times. The statue however still remains in this
location. It is now called the "Angelo Lamagna" activity center.
This area sits across form the Freshwater Pond, that
had been used for ice skating and fishing. Today there is an Annual Fishing Derby that happens at the onset of each fishing
season.
Read a wonderfully interesting story about Frederick E. Morse go to his name and a site will pop up with his information.
He saved lives and associated with Theodore Roosevelt Jr.! Pictures provided a must see!
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Thompsonville was a booming carpet mill town in the late 1800's,
Orrin Thompson was the founder of the original mill. For those who may be confused--Enfield was called Thompsonville for quite
some time. Thompsonville was built up to provide housing for mill workers. A plethra of architectural eye candy, the area
encompassed all variations of Queen Anne styles, colonials,mill housing, and quaint cottages to entice the Scottish weavers
into working for the mill. Then in the 70's the mill pulled out (having been sold by Thompson previously) and left a gaping
hole in the community. Highways and malls soon arrived. People fled the area for "modern" homogenized housing. Then Urban
Renewal the ill thought-out plan to "modernize" the past --almost broke Thompsonville forever. Many vital and precious building
were demolished to make way for construction that paled in comparison to the glory of former architecture. Revitalization
efforts began and failed in the 90's. Despite political motivations, lack of vision, and other blames--- a spirit somehow
survived that is here today.
A spark shines through still after all the area has suffered. This village is still awaiting
it's official rebirth, it can't be far off.
Thompsonville is so very unique in it's non conforming tradition of a
"Main Street" in anywhere USA. In other words it it a large neighborhood with micro neighborhoods within. There was no one
street that the town built up to drive through-- but rather a sophisticated village that blended well with the topograhy of
the land. Shops were woven in with homes in each mini neighborhood. Parks now dot some of the spaces once filled with greenery
or tired buildings. Thompsonville has a beautiful pond just beyond entrance of the North Main street gateway. It offers peaceful
gazing in all seasons. Gentle inclines and valley's peak key architectural buildings above others. The Connecticut River lays
at the back drop of Thompsonville providing a landscape for nature and historic homes dotting the river banks. A train track
cuts through the land creating movement and energy. There was once a train station here. To further create interest, a bridge
exiting the village to the next township of Suffield once took travelers over the river.
If you wish to see the Enfield
Historical Society's site on the Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Mills please click on their site.
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