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The Naugatuck Historical Society P.O
Box 317, 195 Water Street, Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770
USA
203-729-9039 email: |
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ALLERTON ROAD
Allerton Road begins at the lower end of Field Street and winds its way down to the Middlebury line where it is named Allerton Farms Road. Allerton Road is in all probability named for George Milton Allerton. Though he was not a Naugatuck native, Allerton became one of Naugatuck's most prominent and admired citizens. He was born in Duchess County New York on December 1, 1831. He was the son of Milton B. Allerton, a descendant of Isaac Allerton, one of the Pilgrim fathers who landed in Plymouth in 1620. Isaac left Plymouth Colony and settled in New Have about 1647. He was married twice and had 5 children. One son, Jonathan, had a son, Joshua, who was the grandfather of George M. Allerton. George M. Allerton married Lois Mabbett of Dover, New York on October 5, 1858. Their union produced 3 sons, George Milton Allerton, Charles Goodyear Allerton, and Louis Mott Allerton. Lois Mabbett Allerton died in February, 1865. George was married for the second time to Mary Alida. They were married in Naugatuck, January 24, 1877. Their two children, Anna Odgden Allerton and Robert Wade Allerton were born in Naugatuck. George M. Allerton began his career as a clerk in a dry goods store, but the sale of rubber goods soon peeked his interest and he started a business for himself. He had little or no capital but his energy, prudence, pluck and perseverance brought him much success. He soon became in charge of the Goodyear India Rubber Glove Store in New York and in 1856, assumed the management of its business. The capital of the Goodyear Rubber Glove Co was small and the production of goods (in Naugatuck) was limited by the Goodyear patent. During the Civil War the company was making goods for the Union Army, especially hospital and surgeons supplies. When the war ended the Glove Co. was left with a large work force engaged in making unneeded Army goods. Allerton was quick to foresee some new thing to which the use of rubber could be applied, some new rubber article or an improvement on an old article, and then find a ready and profitable market for the goods. Allerton came to Naugatuck in 1867 from New York when the ever growing business demanded that he take up residency here. He soon became one of Naugatuck's most valuable and favorite citizens. He soon became involved in all matters of public interest in Naugatuck. He organized the Naugatuck Telephone Co. in 1879 to build a telephone line from Waterbury to Naugatuck. He built his home on Terrace Avenue (then a private street). An 1883 map of Naugatuck shows he owned property extending from the end of Meadow Street to what is now North Church Street. An active Mason, the Allerton Chapter No.39 of the Royal Arch Masons was instituted on September 4, 1876 and named in his honor. A Mason member, Judge S. W. Kellogg said this of George Allerton, "He had not one element of meanness or malice in his nature. He took no pleasure in speaking of the faults of others. He was full of generous charity wherever it was deserving and God and they only who received its benefits knew all knew all that he did to help others. The humblest man in his employment could go to him in trouble and find a friend." Mr. Allerton died December 2, 1882 in Naugatuck. He was 51 years old. He was buried in Dover Plains, New York. The Masonic Fraternity of which he was a member performed the last rites. The benediction given by Brother Kellogg is as follows, "Peace to thy ashes, and rest to thy soul, departed brother and may we learn by thy example to be more charitable to others, to do more kindly deeds for our fellow men and to be more tender, loving and true to family and friends until the end". |
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