Edward N. Shelton
EDWARD N. SHELTON
VISIONARY
BUSINESSMAN
DRIVING FORCE
BEHIND THE
OUSATONIC DAM
Edward Nelson Shelton pictured above was born in
Huntington in 1812. In 1836, he located to the Birmingham section of Derby
and worked with his brother-in-law in producing tacks. He became involved in
may enterprises in town including the Birmingham National Bank, the Derby
Savings Bank and the Shelton Company which made boxes. He was also the president of the Ousatonic Water Company,
and that was the springboard for the endeavor that was to put his name on
the borough of Shelton and then on the all of the former Huntington when it
became a city in 1919.
He is generally credited as being the
leader of the group that pushed for a state charter to dam the
Housatonic River and raised the capital to make it a reality
When the Ousatonic Dam was
officially opened on October 10, 1870 and cheap water power created a thriving manufacturing industry on the other side
of the Housatonic River, that area of town came to be known as Shelton!
Shelton lived in a famous mansion in
Derby, Graystone which once stood where Irving School is today, and was
known and respected in the area not only for his business
accomplishments, but also for his charity and community involvement
which included a stint in the state senate.
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