The most important manufacturing industry connected with -Woodbridge, was the match business. This town is really the birthplace of the friction match. The inventor was Thomas Sanford, whose title to the distinction is permanently secured by a decision of the U. S. Court. Mr. Sanford made the invention while living in the neighboring town of Oxford. But his first shop was in -Woodbridge, in a part of the house now occupied by Robert Payne as a residence. "Next he moved his business to a larger shop, west of and at the foot of Round Hill. The ruins of this building, which has just fallen in, may be seen near the so-called
MRS. MORRIS F. TYLER. Sanford Place. Still later, Mr. Sanford built another shop further down Bladen's Brook. The best known
manufacturer of matches in Woodbridge, was William A. Clark, whose shop was on Bladen's Brook, below
Mr. Sanford's. Mr. Clark was a man of large enterprise and a great inventor and improver of match-
making machinery. A considerable settlement grew up in the neighborhood of his factory. In those days
the paper match boxes had to be made by hand. This created an industry which was carried on far and
wide by women and girls in their homes, in this and in surrounding towns. The Clark business was
absorbed by the Diamond Match Company. The Woodbridge factory was operated till 1885.
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