P.O Box 317, 195 Water Street, Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770
203-729-9039

 

WHAT'S IN A NAME?
By Sandy Clark
Spencer St. --- Hotchkiss St. --- Wooster St.

The family names of Spencer, Hotchkiss and Wooster are three of the oldest names associated with the development of the borough of Naugatuck. These names first appear as residents of Salem Bridge, which was then the south end of Mattatuck. (Mattatuck was later renamed Waterbury).

Francis Spencer and his brother Lawrence, were the sons of Elihu and Ruth (Sheppard) Spencer. Together with Giles Hotchkiss and Letsome Terrill, they opened the Spencer & Hotchkiss clock Co. on what is now Rubber Ave. Spencer St. is located on the west side of town. It begins at Elm Street and ends at Andrew Avenue School.

Giles Hotchkiss Jr. was the son of Giles and Esther (Benham) Hotchkiss. Besides clocks he was involved in the manufacture of buttons with his son Charley. The company of Spencer and Hotchkiss produced many "Salem Bridge" clocks in a variety of case designs. Some of these clocks can be seen at the Naugatuck Historical Society Museum. Hotchkiss Street is located on the east side of town. It begins at South Main Street alongside Valley Chevrolet and ends at Breen Field. It was once a much longer street with many homes and the "Box Shop"; the reconstruction of route 8 following the Flood of 1955 has diminished its size.

In 1833 Letsome Terrell sold his interest in the Clock Company to Jesse Wooster, son of Walter Ozro and Ursula Beebe Wooster. In 1840, Lawrence Spencer sold his share of the company to Jesse Wooster. The new company was now Called Spencer and Wooster, and lasted until about 1843. Wooster Street is located on the east side of town, beginning at City Hill (Pine Brook Assembly of God Church is on the intersection of Wooster and City Hill). Like May street, it too ambles its way up hill around sharp curves and ends at Maple Hill St. a few miles south of May street and Maple Hill Street.

Taken from the June2003 issue of the NHS Newsletter

More information on this and other Naugatuck history topics can be found in the research area of our Museum. Please consider becoming a member of the Society and supporting this research!