 A drop further west on the Willimantic provided an additional source of water power, which was exploited in the early 19th-century for the production of textiles.By 1836 there were six textile mills lining the river, and the growth of Willimantic as an urban commercial hub and mill village was in full swing.Main Street, laid out in 1707, formed part of the major east-west Windham Turnpike established in 1799, bringing travelers through the village as well.