Edmond and Alice Brodeur and The History of Cheshire Street and Vicinity

Richard {Reggie} Smith
Jun 19
4 min read

The History of Cheshire Street and Vicinity, 1694–1971.

Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0

In 1971, Edmond E. Brodeur and his wife, Alice S. Rouleau Brodeur, published a 51-page historical booklet titled The History of Cheshire Street and Vicinity, 1694–1971. Though modest in size, the publication became an important resource for documenting the history of northeastern Cheshire and neighboring sections of the Quinnipiac River valley before significant suburban development altered the area.

The Authors

Edmond Eugene Brodeur (1897–1974) was born in Meriden, Connecticut, the son of Louis and Roseanna Brodeur. He attended Meriden public schools and served in the United States Navy during World War I. Following his military service, he moved to Cheshire in 1918 and lived there for more than four decades.

Brodeur worked at the Cheshire Correctional Institution until his retirement in 1960. He remained active in civic and religious organizations, including the Knights of Columbus, where he was a Fourth Degree Knight. Following retirement, he and Alice resided in Meriden while continuing their historical research.

Alice S. Rouleau Brodeur (1904–1986) spent most of her life in the Cheshire area. Drawing upon personal knowledge of local families, properties, and traditions, she became an essential partner in the research and preparation of the manuscript. According to a 1971 newspaper article about the project, Alice completed much of the typing required for publication despite having little previous typing experience.

Creating the Book

The Brodeur's spent approximately two and a half years researching and compiling The History of

Cheshire Street and Vicinity. They were assisted by numerous current and former residents who shared family records, memories, photographs, and historical information.

Published in a limited edition of 500 copies, the booklet was intended as a preservation project. The Brodeurs recognized that many historic homes, farms, and landmarks were disappearing as the region underwent rapid residential development during the mid-twentieth century.

A contemporary newspaper review noted that the work contained information "not generally known" and praised its extensive collection of photographs and local historical details.

Scope of the Work

Although centered on Cheshire Street, the book covers a broader area extending along the Quinnipiac River corridor. It includes sections of present-day Cheshire as well as nearby portions of Meriden, including areas associated with Johnson Avenue, Allen Avenue Extension, Sindall Road, and Finch Avenue.

The historical narrative begins in 1694, when the area was first settled as part of Wallingford. It continues through Cheshire's incorporation as a separate town in 1780 and concludes in 1971, the year of publication.

Historic Homes and Family Lineages

A major focus of the book is the documentation of historic properties and family ownership. The Brodeur's traced land ownership through colonial deeds, probate records, maps, and town documents, creating a detailed record of how farms and homesteads passed from one generation to another.

Among the family names frequently appearing in the text are Ives, Doolittle, Parker, Bradley, Stratton, Lilya, Rice, Ferguson, Mix, and many others whose descendants continued to live in the Cheshire-Meriden area.

The publication serves both as an architectural survey and a genealogical reference, preserving information that might otherwise have been lost.

Community Life and Local History

Beyond property records, the Brodeur's documented aspects of daily life that shaped the Cheshire Street neighborhood.

The book includes photographs and descriptions of:

One-room schoolhouses
Early blacksmith shops
Country stores
Taverns
Railroad depots
Factories located along Finch Avenue

The authors also recorded information about mills, roads, schools, churches, and businesses that once served the area.

One notable historical detail described in the book concerns the barytes mining industry. According to the authors, hundreds of miners from Cornwall, England, were employed in local barytes mines during the early nineteenth century. The mineral, sometimes known as heavy spar, became an important component of the area's economy.

Preserving Local Memory

Interwoven with official records are descriptions of community traditions, neighborhood landmarks, severe weather events, and the everyday experiences of residents. The Brodeurs documented how local institutions evolved, how roads and property boundaries changed over time, and how generations of families contributed to the development of the area.

A recurring theme throughout the work is the distinct identity of the Cheshire Street neighborhood. Rather than viewing the area solely as part of the larger town, the authors highlighted its unique character, institutions, and longstanding family connections.

Legacy

When Edmond Brodeur died in April 1974 at the age of seventy-seven, his obituary noted his military service, his career at the Cheshire Correctional Institution, and his many years of community involvement. It also marked the passing of a man who had devoted considerable effort to preserving local history.

Today, The History of Cheshire Street and Vicinity, 1694–1971 remains a valuable resource for historians, genealogists, historical societies, and residents interested in the development of Cheshire and neighboring sections of Meriden. More than fifty years after its publication, the booklet continues to provide a detailed record of the people, places, and institutions that shaped one of the region's oldest neighborhoods.

Through their research and documentation, Edmond and Alice Brodeur created a lasting historical record that preserves the heritage of Cheshire Street and its surrounding communities for future generations.