Cannot date precisely the use of wire window screens but do know
that the wire-drawing and wire-weaving equipment that made it
was available just before the Civil War.  One of the key
contributors to this technology was GILBERT AND BENNETT CO. of
Georgetown, CT (G-town is an unincorporated village within the
municipal boundaries of the town of Redding, in the SW part
of the state).  Perhaps a note to the local Historical Society
would help.  G & B went belly up in late 1980s (could have
been the model for the company in the movie and play "Other
People's Money," but that was another CT wire-bending shop).
There was some talk of Special Collections at Univ. of Conn.
library getting a shot at the business records.  Result
unknown.
 
Sorry for all the holes in this referral, but at least you're
in the right part of the world now.
 
Good luck,
 
Matthew Roth, Petersen Museum  (MROTH@USCVM)