ENFIELD – Author and Enfield resident Peter Sorenson released his latest book, “Climax Fuse: The Explosive History of Ensign-Bickford.”

“The book is about entrepreneurs; the kind of pioneering spirit that individuals had in the 1700s and 1800s,” Sorenson said. “It’s a story that’s very specific to northwest Connecticut while connecting as well to England, California and Massachusetts.”

In 1831, a former currier named William Bickford invented the safety fuse in England which took the local mining industry by storm. An individual from the Simsbury, CT, named Richard Bacon read about the invention and partnered with the English firm of Bickford, Smith, and Davey to manufacture their patented product in Connecticut in 1836. From that point forward it’s a story of how the industry overtook mining on the East and West Coasts. The individuals who were a part of that process; how they worked together, against each other, became rivals in the industry and how the industry matured.

“At its core, it’s a story about these individuals,” Sorenson said. “The men and women who helped create not only the industries but participated in the events themselves. What drove them, the types of people they were and why they made certain decisions as well as the maturation of the mining industry itself.”
He added, “There’s a lot of different ways to perceive some of the events in this book and I did my best to be as honest as possible in presenting them and let the reader make up their own mind.”

Sorenson traveled all over the region to talk with specific individuals about this information along with in-person and virtual interviews. He did a significant amount of research at state college libraries – both locally and remotely – state archives, local libraries, historical societies, books, diaries, and news publications.

“I had no idea that the story would be as rich as it is,” Sorenson said. “The initial idea was to write about the explosive event that closed the manufactory in Simsbury, but I ended up acquiring a full understanding of the industry itself.” He had to go all the way back to the 1600s in the Great Lakes region to understand where the interest in copper came from and how it migrated to the East Coast. Then of all places, Simsbury became the regional point of interest for copper.

He told Reminder Publishing there’s a natural connection between “Climax Fuse” and his previous book, “Hazard Powder: The Powder Hollow Explosion of 1913” because the Connecticut fuse manufacturers industries purchased their gunpowder from the Hazard Powder Mill in Enfield. Both Ensign-Bickford and Hazard Powder had locations on the West Coast as well as Dupont who played a role in settling down the safety fuse industry on the West Coast. This book exposes the richness of regional history and makes it available for the community to read about their own town and learn something new about the people who made their towns what they are today.

“‘Climax Fuse’ is regionally specific and regionally important,” Sorenson pointed out. “I want people to get interested in their local history and realize that these towns have very vibrant histories. It might give them insight to take action and learn more about their community, more than what I’ve written even here.”

“Climax Fuse: The Explosive History of Ensign-Bickford” is currently available on Amazon.com, the Canton Connecticut Historical Museum, and will soon be available at the Broadside Bookshop in Northampton, the Armory in Springfield and the Olde Newgate Prison and Copper Mine gift shop in East Granby, CT. Readings and presentations are currently being booked at various local venues.