HOADLEY STREET
By Sandy Clark

In 1999, a series of articles called “What’s in a Name” appeared in the Naugatuck Daily News, as a weekly series about the origins of streets, parks, and other landmarks.

One street mentioned was Hoadley Street, (also North Hoadley Street and Hoadley Terrace). According to the article, the street connects Rubber Ave. to Millville Ave. Eventually, North Hoadley Street came into being, stretching from Millville Ave. to Field St. Hoadley Terrace just off of Hoadley Street.

The author also states that “Hoadley St. was named, in all likelihood, for Lemuel B. Hoadley who owned at least 5 homes on Hoadley St., including his residence and several others in the area.”
In Naugatuck’s early years, the Hoadley’s were a very prominent family and remained so for many years thereafter.

The first Hoadley to arrive in Naugatuck was William. He was born in Branford on Feb. 13, 1707 and was married to Sarah Frisbie of Branford. He was one of the first settlers in Judd’s Meadow (Salem Bridge, Naugatuck). In 1751, he bought one gristmill and half of a sawmill which he and Jonathan Beebe ran together until 1754, when Beebe sold his interest to William.

A son, William was born May 14, 1734 in Branford. He ran the mills until April 1810, when he sold the home, gristmill and land to Ebenezer Scott. William was married to Esther Portor, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Burnside) Portor. She was a very handsome and wealthy woman who was often referred to as “the Village Belle.”

Jude Hoadley, son of William and Sarah Frisbie was born in Naugatuck on Feb. 20, 1743. He married Naomi Tinker. He owned and operated a shop on Fulling Mill Brook, which produced spinning wheels and winding reels. He was a soldier of the Revolution and a pensioner and the father of 4 children, all born in Naugatuck.

William and his wife had six children, one of whom was Culpepper, born in Naugatuck on Sept. 10, 1764. He married Molly Lewis, daughter of Samuel and Eunice (Beebe) Lewis. He was a shoemaker by trade and carried on that business in Naugatuck most of his life.

William’s son, Marshall, was born in Naugatuck on June 14, 1801. Like his father, he was also a millwright by trade. He was married to Nancy Ann Judd. He represented Naugatuck in the General Assembly form [sic] 1835-1836. He was a charter member and first Master of Shepherds Masonic Lodge in Naugatuck. His house was their first meeting place.

As one can observe, the Hoadley genealogy in Naugatuck is quite long and extremely interesting. Lemuel Burritt Hoadley, for whom the street may have been named, was born on Aug. 5, 1830 in Naugatuck, son of Marshall and Nancy Ann (Judd) Hoadley. He was a carpenter and a joiner by trade and later entered the employ of the Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Co., first in the mill room and then as a supervisor of the repairing department. He was a selectman for Naugatuck from 1888–1889.

There may be no more Hoadley’s listed in the Naugatuck section of the telephone book, but these early settlers, of what is now Naugatuck, will be remembered for all time. Just look up at the street signs – the name “Hoadley” goes on.

Source - Naugatuck Historical Society Newsletter, September-October 2004 issue