Stevenson Dam, Oxford

Stevenson Dam, Oxford – Jerry Dougherty

The town of Oxford is in New Haven County, located in southwestern Connecticut. The Pootatuck and Paugussett (the first peoples to inhabit the area), were followed by English settlers around the 1680s. Named for Oxford, England, the town was incorporated from parts of Derby and Southbury in October of 1798. Early manufacturing took advantage of waterpower and the economy was built on small farms and mills. Later, tanneries produced harnesses and leather goods including folded leather cases for daguererreotypes and ambrotypes. In addition, locally raised Merino sheep gave rise to processing mills and other related industries. Today Oxford is a rural suburb.

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Merino Sheep

Textile Mills in Oxford Dominated Early Industry

Domestic wool production is one of the oldest industries in the United States. The first mill in Connecticut arrived in Hartford in 1788. …[more]

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