Collinsville is a little village inside of the small town of Canton. With a population hovering around 4,000, it’s not particularly large and many people aren’t familiar with it. However, this small factory town was once a major producer of axes, which were used in the California Gold Rush, (and even made their way to the North Pole.) Collinsville has a really fascinating history that manages to put this small town in Connecticut on the map even today, 60 years after the axe factory closed.
Many people don’t know that the first ready-to-use axe company in the United States was right here in Connecticut. Collins and Co. was founded in 1826.
John Warner Barber/Connecticut Historical Society Before their factory was established, people had to get axe heads from blacksmiths.
The factory opened up right along the Farmington River in Canton.
Cosmocatalana/Wikimedia Commons
As the brand gained national prominence, worker housing sprung up all around the factory. As workers migrated to the area, other structures, like a church and doctor’s offices, popped up as well.
Leroy Roberts Railroad Collection/Connecticut Historical Societyn The burgeoning little village was named Collinsville after the business that employed so many of the town’s residents.
The company was restructured in the 1840s as the Collins Manufacturing Company.
Mills Photograph Collection of Connecticut/Connecticut State Library They would eventually sell more than 80 percent of the world’s machetes. Tools made by the Collins Company were used all over the globe, including during the California Gold Rush. The first expedition to the North Pole, led by Robert Peary, was also made possible with the help of Collins ice picks.
The town flourished with the success of the Collins Company. A railroad was built through Collins. Unfortunately, the flood of 1955 destroyed the railroad line and the Collins Company began to struggle financially.
Connecticut Historical Society
Between the railroad’s destruction and an increase in foreign competition, the Collins Company was unable to compete. The main factory building still stands today.
Sphilbrick/Wikimedia Commons There are talks that it will be redeveloped into apartments or buildings, but as of now, most of the area is vacant.
Did you know about the interesting history of this small town in Connecticut?
John Warner Barber/Connecticut Historical Society
Before their factory was established, people had to get axe heads from blacksmiths.
Cosmocatalana/Wikimedia Commons
Leroy Roberts Railroad Collection/Connecticut Historical Societyn
The burgeoning little village was named Collinsville after the business that employed so many of the town’s residents.
Mills Photograph Collection of Connecticut/Connecticut State Library
They would eventually sell more than 80 percent of the world’s machetes. Tools made by the Collins Company were used all over the globe, including during the California Gold Rush. The first expedition to the North Pole, led by Robert Peary, was also made possible with the help of Collins ice picks.
Connecticut Historical Society
Sphilbrick/Wikimedia Commons
There are talks that it will be redeveloped into apartments or buildings, but as of now, most of the area is vacant.
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Address: Canton, CT, USA
