Straitsville
By Sandy Clark

Have you ever wondered about the origin of the name Straitsville? It started with the Connecticut General Assembly of 1795. The Assembly appointed a committee to view the possible roads and layout of a route from New Haven to Litchfield. The committee consisted of Aaron Benedict and his associates, who, according to the Assembly records, “together with such persons as shall hereafter associate with them, their successors, heirs and assigns ... and they are hereby contributing a Corporation by the name of Straights Turnpike Company for establishing and keeping in repair a Turnpike Road from New haven Courthouse to the Courthouse in Litchfield.” The Turnpike was granted in October of 1796.

Early in Naugatuck’s history, Straitsville was the actual center or principal section of the village of Salem Bridge. Like Fulling Mill Brook in the northern section of the village, small factories developed on Beacon Brook and Cotton Hollow Brook where Milo Lewis manufactured cotton in his mill.

The exact development of Straitsville remains hazy, but it is believed that the combination of water power from the Cotton Hollow and Beacon brooks and the construction of the Collins Hotel were prime factors. On early maps of Naugatuck, Straitsville is shown as “Straightsville.” The first appearance of the name “Straight” is shown on Colonial Records in the original book of Town Records of Portsmouth, R.I. (page 342). The name appears again in Connecticut Highway records- “A Mr. Strait had a tavern and operates the Turnpike between Naugatuck and Bethany, CT” (G.D. Straight, 1975).

In Naugatuck’s early years, Straitsville was a hub of activity with its own jailhouse, several stores, a number of factories, homes and the Salem Bridge Post Office as well as a school.

Straitsville became the most important stop for the stages that ran between New Haven and Litchfield. The really old-time stages were drawn by four horses, and the arrival of such coaches was a matter of great importance because it meant the arrival of mail.

In an era before telephones, telegraphs, and the railroad, this was the only communication with the world. Excitement always built in the village as word went out a person returned from a trip. It is believed that Ahira Collins, who was the proprietor of the Collins Hotel (Tavern), was also a partner in the Stage Line.

Collins not only ran his hotel and tavern but also operated a knife factory and store on Beacon Brook and ran a mill which was greatly needed by area farmers in the area. He also ran a general store. In the basement of the hotel he could also rent out beds to farmers who rode in on coach days.

Straitsville boomed for a while as small factories and stage coaches did a great business. Suddenly, the death knell of Straitsville occurred with the arrival of the Naugatuck Railroad. The famous stages were dropped and the once lively area became a deserted village.

Source
Naugatuck Historical Society Newsletter
Volume 12, Issue 6
November - December 2007