New Book About Enfield Gunpowder Industry Released

ENFIELD, CT — The Powder Hollow and Scantic River regions of Hazardville are among the most picturesque and historic areas in all of Enfield. The village was named for Col. Augustus Hazard, whose Hazard Powder Company manufactured gunpowder from the 1830s through the second decade of the 20th century. During the Civil War, the mill was one of the three chief sources of gunpowder for the Union forces, producing up to 12,500 pounds of material per day.

Following Hazard's death in 1868, DuPont assumed majority control of the company and continued to operate until Jan. 14, 1913, when a series of explosions heard as far as 10 miles away killed two employees and destroyed most of the mill. The site was permanently closed and the equipment moved to Valley Falls, New York.

Enfield resident Peter Floyd Sorenson has just published a book entitled "Hazard Powder: the Powder Hollow Explosion of 1913." It not only recounts the tragedy of that winter day 108 years ago, but gives a comprehensive overview of the history of the gunpowder industry in Enfield. He includes in-depth stories of the people involved, from business founders to ordinary men and women who made their living working there, including Charles Blunden and Jacob Stocker, who lost their lives that day.

Sorenson wrote:

"More than a book about a powder mill explosion. It recounts the lives and deaths of the men and women who defined themselves by the work they chose and the turbulent times in which they lived.

"A redefinition of the people and the history behind the industry that carved the town of Hazardville out of the belly of Enfield, and a reframing of the destruction of a way of life by men whose sole allegiance was to money.

"Hazard Powder: where work either makes you a whole man or leaves just enough of you behind to fill a bucket."

Sorenson grew up in Sherman, Connecticut, and moved to Enfield in 2018, when he bought a 1919 Colonial-style home with his wife Lyn. A simple quest for a nice place in town to hike led him to Powder Hollow.

"We discovered the Scantic River State Park, went for a walk by the river and it was pretty," Sorenson told Patch in a recent interview. "There was a wooden kiosk there with a few paragraphs about a gunpowder mill, and I was fascinated that a peddler had money to buy 500 acres. I dove into it, and started a year's worth of research."

The 238-page book, containing 18 chapters, may be purchased here for $21.17, including shipping and tax. Proceeds will help support the Hazardville Institute Conservancy Society. The book is also available at the Enfield Central Library on Middle Road.

Lisa Sprague, public services librarian, said, "The book has been extremely popular here. It's been checked out lots of times and we have a copy in our historical case as well. Generally, people check it out and then come to us wanting to know where they can get a copy."

Sorenson will present a program about his book at the library on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. Copies of the book will be available to purchase and have autographed by the author.

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