West Hartford, Connecticut, Part 1

Author: Hall, William Hutchins, 1845-
Publication date: 1930
Publisher: West Hartford : [publisher not identified]
Number of Pages: 298


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WEST HARTFORD CONNECTICUT


Gc 974.602 W386h 1164938


>50


M. L.


GENEALOGY COLLECTION


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01105 5768


"INSTEAD OF THY FATHERS SHALL BE THY CHILDREN, WHOM THOU MAYEST MAKE PRINCES IN ALL THE EARTH."


WEST HARTFORD


by WILLIAM H. HALL


1930


COPYRIGHTED 1930


PUBLICATION SPONSORED BY


THE WEST HARTFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


PRINTED BY JAMES A. REID 81-83 LAUREL STREET HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT


Dedication


1164938


This book is affectionately dedicated to the boys and girls of West Hartford with whom it has been my great privilege and joy to be associated in the public schools of the town through a period of many years. Many of them are men and women now. Some are parents and even grandparents of children now in the schools; some have gone forth to make homes and render service in other com- munities far and near. I include all in most grateful remembrance and most hearty appreciation of their genuine friendships which have enriched my life, and of their joyous greetings which have cheered my heart. The remembrance of them and of their friendship has been to me a constant source of encouragement and cheer in the preparation of this book.


William Hotell


Goodspeed-7.50


INTRODUCTION


Why this book?


The reasons for its existence are many, but chiefly the fol- lowing: When I was a student in Monson Academy, in the class which was graduated in 1869, the principal of the Academy, Rev. Charles Hammond, was accustomed to say to his scholars, "In- terest yourselves in the history of the town in which your home is located. Whether it be large or small, you will find much of in- terest in its history".


Inspired by this suggestion, I soon began to make inquiry concerning the history of West Hartford, of which at that time I knew little or nothing. Valuable information was received from some of the older residents: Miss Eliza Butler and her niece Mrs. E. G. Sisson, Miss Charlotte Colton, Thomas Brace, Ben- jamin Bishop, Morgan Goodwin, Edwin Belden, and others. From their memory of what had occurred during their lifetime, and from what had been told them by their predecessors, they had some knowledge of the history of the town almost from its beginning. I also received valuable information from Miss Mary K. Talcott of Hartford, John B. Talcott of New Britain, Rev. W. W. Belden of Thomaston, Col. William E. Cone of Hartford, and H. M. Seymour of Payson, Illinois. From time to time inter- esting facts came to me from other sources. But during all these years I did not contemplate the preparation of a history.


One day in the summer of 1922 I visited David N. Gaines at his home in East Hartland, Conn. Mr. Gaines has been for many years the efficient town clerk of Hartland and is deeply interested in local history. In the course of our conversation he asked if we taught West Hartford history in our public schools. I told him that we had not done so. He expressed regret, stating that he thought the boys and girls in every New England community should be taught the history of their own town. I felt reproved, and realized that I had been selfish in retaining the knowledge which had interested me, without thought of imparting it to others, and especially to the boys and girls in our public schools, of which I had been superintendent for twenty-five years. So, when the time came for the opening of the public schools in the autumn of 1922, and I had assured my successor, Superintendent Lloyd H. Bugbee, of my wish to be of service to him and to the schools, if desired, it was arranged that I should teach West Hartford history in weekly lessons to scholars in all the fifth grades of the public schools.


HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD


At that time Mr. Bugbee expressed a desire that I should write a history of West Hartford. After I had been teaching the classes for a few months, the School Board expressed interest in the matter and voted to grant me leave of absence for a season in order that I might have opportunity to write a history of the town. At a later date the directors of the West Hartford Cham- ber of Commerce became interested in the matter and voted to be responsible financially for whatever expense might be neces- sary to incur in the preparation and publication of the book. So, with these encouragements, I began. As the writing of the book has progressed, I have been greatly encouraged by many and varied manifestations of interest on the part of those who have spoken of their desire to possess and read such a book, and by those who have rendered valuable assistance in securing material from various sources, or have made personal contributions of material.


The service which has been rendered in the final preparation of the book for the press by Mr. Alfred M. Hitchcock who kindly consented to edit the book, is most gratefully appreciated, as a valuable contribution.


Very grateful acknowledgement is also made of the hearty cooperation from the beginning, of Superintendent Lloyd H. Bugbee, and especially of the very valuable service rendered by him in arranging in an admirable way the details in connection with the publication of the book.


What of the book?


It is not, strictly speaking, a history of West Hartford. It is, however, composed of historical matter relative to the begin- ning, the development, and the accomplishments of the commun- ity. The principal events and factors of that development are presented somewhat in story form, under appropriate titles or headings. I sincerely hope that it will prove to be an interesting story to all those residents and friends of the town who read it, and that it will serve to promote a spirit of keener appreciation of the community and a deeper devotion of its highest interests.


I should like to have this work considered a grateful tribute of my appreciation of my good fortune in that I had my birth in this town and have lived here so many years in the enjoyment of its privileges of citizenship and of associations with citizens and friends, especially with the children and youths in the public schools.


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Pages


Beginnings


1-8


Separation from Hartford


9-14


The West Hartford of Earlier Days


16-25


Memories of Social Life in the "Good Old Days"


26-38


Early Occupations and Industries


39-44


Old Highways and Public Conveyances


45-62


Old Homesteads


63-74


Churches


75-98


Schools


99-136


Cemeteries


137-141


Community Societies and Other Organizations


142-165


Industry and Enterprise in More Recent Times


165-186


Parks and Reservoirs


187-197


Changes in Town Government


198-205


Fire and Police Departments - The Post Office and Postmasters


206-216


Biographical Notes


217-255


Representatives in General Assembly


256-257


Members Twenty-second Regiment Connecticut Volunteers


258-259


Comparison of Taxable Properties and Population


260-262


Transformation and Growth


263-267


ILLUSTRATIONS


DISTRIBUTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND ACCOMPANYING LEGENDS


Page


FRONTISPIECE Group of West Hartford children 1930


BEGINNINGS No illustrations


SEPARATION FROM HARTFORD No illustrations


THE WEST HARTFORD OF EARLIER DAYS


Map of West Hartford Center, 1838


15


St. James Church Rectory


16


Old Vestry and First Town Hall


17


The Goodman Hurlburt Tavern.


A sketch made from descrip-


tions given from the boyhood memories of Herman Hamlin, Charles A. Griswold, and William H. Hall


19


Levi Sedgwick's Blacksmith Shop. A sketch from memory


20


Sarah Whitman Hooker House


21


Buckland Residence, Post Office and Store, 1856


23


Buckland Store and Post Office


24


Judd Block, West Hartford Center


25


MEMORIES OF SOCIAL LIFE IN THE "GOOD OLD DAYS"


Old Butler House


29


Jonathan Butler's Wagon. Built in 1825 and still in use


30


The Brace Violin


31


Thomas Brace, Choirmaster for Forty Years


33


Home of Thomas Brace


34


EARLY OCCUPATIONS AND INDUSTRIES


Old Center Gristmill


40


Stone Jug Found in Ruins of an Old Distillery


42


OLD HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC CONVEYANCES Map Showing Location of Old Buildings


46


Sidney Wadsworth, widely known and popular Tavern-keeper for many years. He was also a farmer and a breeder of fine horses, recognized on the road as the owner and driver of a fine span of horses


47


The Wadsworth Tavern on Albany Turnpike at the foot of Pros- pect Hill. The tavern was on the East side of the road, in Hartford but the barns and sheds were on the West Hartford side


48


The Old Tavern Sign. It was suspended from the corner of a long shed on the West side of Prospect Hill Road


49


ILLUSTRATIONS


Page


The Old Toll-gate House on Albany Avenue. It stood at the top of the hill just west of Mountain Road, near Phelps Tavern.


50


Old Phelps Tavern. It stood on the south side of Albany Turn- pike, near the toll-gate house. It was owned by members of the Phelps family - Samuel, Erastus, Julius - in successive generations; one of the most popular stage coach taverns in West Hartford. The house was destroyed by fire several years ago when it was the property of the Welles family, who were engaged in the milk business. The house now standing on the site of the tavern was the property of the late William G. Welles of Arcadia, Florida


51


Residences on Farmington Avenue in 1854


56


West Hartford - Hartford Omnibus


60


First Horse Car to West Hartford


61


OLD HOMESTEADS


Deacon Hezekiah Selden House


63


Mark Gridley House


64


The Stanley House


65


The Sedgwick House


66


The Kelsey House


67


Home of Dr. Edward Brace


67


The Griswold House


68


The Goodwin Homestead


69


The Whiting House


69


The Philip Corbin House


70


The Capt. Ebenezer Faxon House


71


The Old Whitman Homestead


72


The Present Whitman Homestead


72


The Joel Steele Homestead


73


The Childs Goodman House


73


The Benjamin Belden House


74


CHURCHES


Congregational Church, built in 1834, now known as the Town Hall


76


Rev. Benjamin Colton


79


Rev. Nathan Perkins


79


Rev. M. N. Morris


79


Rev. T. M. Hodgdon


79


The Pastorates of these four ministers aggregated 172 years Congregational Church, built in 1882


80


First Church Parsonage


81


Chart, prepared by Henry C. Whitman, showing location of three Church Buildings erected successively on land formerly owned by Timothy Goodman on the West Side of Main Street now occupied by Town Office Building and Town Hall


84


Quaker Cemetery


85


St. James Episcopal Church


86


Baptist Church, built in 1858


89


Elmwood Community Church


93


St. John's Church


96


St. Bridget's Church


97


SCHOOLS


Center School, probably built in 1745


100


North School, probably built in 1745


100


A District School Room


101


Original Prospect Hill School, built in 1837


106


South District School, built in 1852


110


ILLUSTRATIONS


Page 115


Airplane View of Center School and High School Grounds


Center School, built in 1865. First high school was held here on


the second floor, 1872-1896. This picture was taken during the service of Henry C. Meyer of Hartford, principal from 1880 to 1884. The young people were high school pupils at that time


117


Lloyd H. Bugbee


120


James Talcott


121


William H. Hall High School


122


T. Belknap Beach


123


Beach Park Kindergarten and Primary School


124


Artistic Sketch of Proposed Modernistic School


127


CEMETERIES


Boulder in Memory of French Soldiers


139


Fairview Chapel


141


COMMUNITY SOCIETIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS


Miss Elizabeth S. Elmer


144


Masonic Temple


147


Dr. Edwin H. Munger


152


Noah Webster Library


155


Hayes-Velhage Memorial Hall


164


INDUSTRY AND ENTERPRISE IN MORE RECENT TIMES An Old-time Milk-cart


167


Frederick W. Arnold


171


Joseph Bishop at Ninety


172


Joseph Bishop's Tobacco Warehouse


173


Home of Thomas O. Goodwin, Elmwood, Built in 1821


174


Harvey Goodwin, Proprietor of Pottery, 1823


175


Jugs and Jar Made in the Goodwin Potteries


176


H. Burdette Goodwin, President of Goodwin Bros. Pottery Co.


177


Goodwin Brothers' Pottery Shortly Before it was Burned


176


Whitlock Coil Pipe Works


178


Spencer-Turbine Co.


180


New Departure Co. Works


182


West Hartford Trust Co., 1926


186


PARKS AND RESERVOIRS


Charter Oak Scion, Grown and Presented by Samuel Whitman


189


Community Christmas Tree


190


Flag Raising On Goodman Park


191


View from East Side of Reservoir No. 3


196


CHANGES IN TOWN GOVERNMENT


Benjamin I. Miller, First Town Manager Town Office Building 200


199


FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS - POST OFFICE AND POSTMASTERS


East Side Fire House


209


Center District Fire House


210


West Hartford Police Corps


212


West Hartford Post Office, 1929, with group of employees and Mailcarriers, Assistant Postmaster M. B. Alling in center


215


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES


A Group of Present-day Descendants of Old West Hartford Families


217


Edward Stanley, First Representative of West Hartford in the General Assembly, 1855 219


ILLUSTRATIONS


Page


William Thompson Sedgwick


221


John Whitman, First Town Clerk, 1854


223


Samuel Whitman, Town Treasurer, 1854


224


Henry C. Whitman, Town Clerk and Town Treasurer


225


Rev. Nathan Perkins, D.D.


226


Noah Webster


229


Birthplace of Noah Webster


230


Saddlebags of Moses Goodman


231


Benjamin Gilbert


232


Benjamin Gilbert House


233


Judge Samuel Huntington


234


Dr. Edward Brace


235


The Solomon S. Flagg House


237


Leonard Buckland


238


Henry Talcott


240


Hiram W. Elmer


242


George B. Francis


244


Dr. Caroline F. Hamilton


245


Frank H. Stadtmueller


247


William Sternberg


248


Adolph C. Sternberg


249


The James Whitman House


251


Capt. E. Buel Root


258


Veterans of the Civil War as they appeared in Goodman Park in connection with the Welcome Home Celebration of the World War Soldiers


259


TRANSFORMATION AND GROWTH


Tax Bill of Elihu Barber


260


A Real Estate Development


263


A Fine Residential Street


264


Main Street, Looking North from a point near the Old Center School


264


New Britain Avenue, originally called the South Road to Farm- ington, looking west from the South End of South Quaker Lane. A section of the curbing which encloses the space where the Burgoyne Elms were planted in 1777 appears in the foreground


265


Albany Avenue, looking east from a point east of the corner of Albany Avenue and Mountain Road


266


The Boulevard, looking east from South Main Street


267


WILLIAM H. HALL


BEGINNINGS


The history of West Hartford really began in 1636.


In the company of one hundred people who came in that year through the wilderness from Massachusetts, under the leader- ship of Rev. Thomas Hooker and Rev. Samuel Stone, to form a new settlement, were some who soon after became residents of the West Division (now West Hartford) and others whose descendants later became citizens here. The territory purchased of the Indians embraced the larger part of what is now West Hartford. The spirit of true patriotic citizenship which charact- erized Rev. Thomas Hooker and his followers has been mani- fested by our people through all the years of our history.


Arriving at the bank of the Connecticut River about the middle of June, after an experience of two weeks on their jour- ney, these people were greatly pleased with what they beheld. "Stretching from the bank of the river were the extensive fertile meadows sloping westward to the uplands, locked in on most sides by the tall green trees of the primeval forest. Trees, plants, and shrubs were in foliage. The earth had on its carpet of green. Birds were singing everywhere amid verdant branches. Even now, one standing on the rocky ridge in front of Trinity College and looking westward is inspired by the beauty and grandeur of the landscape extending to the range of hills which we call Talcott Mountain.


The Indians having possession of the land were known as Sequins. That branch located in the section where Hartford is now were called Suckiaug Indians, taking that name from suck- iauke, meaning "black earth," such as was found in the meadows on the banks of the river. The sachem of that tribe was Sequas- son, sometimes spelled Sunckquasson. From him the settlers purchased a tract of land extending along the river bank from a settlement on the south called Wethersfield to a settlement on the north called Windsor, and extending westward a full six miles.


For a number of years the people of this new settlement were busy establishing their homes in the eastern part of the territory which they had purchased. In 1672, however, they turned their attention to the western part of the territory and voted to lay it out in sections or farms. The greater part of the land was to be laid out in sections extending a mile and a half eastward from the western boundary, but in the southern part the sections were to be laid out in tiers north to south. All the land from the eastern boundary of these sections to the Hartford settlement was to be set aside and kept forever as a "common" for the use of all the people.


2


HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD


The committee appointed to lay out the sections consisted of Lieutenant Robert Webster, Mr. Nichols, Ensign Olmstead, Nathaniel Standley, Mr. Steel, and Nathaniel Ruscoe. They laid out seventy-two sections or lots extending eastward from the western boundary. These ranged in width from three to ninety- one rods. The largest contained two hundred seventy-three acres. In the southern part of the territory, where the tiers were laid out from north to south, the first tier or division contained nine lots each of about ten acres of land; in the second tier there were six lots of seventeen acres each. The third tier contained seven lots of one hundred acres each, the fourth tier six lots of one hundred acres each, and the fifth tier four lots of one hundred acres each. These five tiers of lots were all south of the highway which we now know as New Britain Avenue.


In 1677 the committee who had laid out the "long lots" were authorized to show the proprietors to whom these had been assigned where their lots were, and for this service they were to receive pay. One of the largest sections was in the northern part of the West Division, generally known as the Haynes lot. It embraced the large farm owned in later years by Samuel Whiting. Another large section was at the Center, forty rods wide, the John Pantry lot, located where the town buildings are now. When Farmington Avenue was opened in 1800, it ran diagonally through this section in its western part. The eastern portion of the Pantry lot was inherited in later years by the Whitmans and the western portion by the Goodmans. The dividing line was the road now known as West Hartford Main Street.


The first settlement in the West Division was made in 1679 by Stephen Hosmer. His father, Thomas Hosmer, purchased land about half a mile north of what is now West Hartford Center, and built for his son a house and a saw-mill on the west side of the road and the north bank of the stream which in recent years has been called Trout Brook. Mrs. Amelia Goodman Emmons, whose childhood home was in the Goodman homestead still standing on the south side of the brook, told me that in her girl- hood a portion of the old saw-mill was still standing on the high bank quite a distance back from the street. Her father, Captain Childs Goodman, for many years had a grist-mill in the same locality but nearer the street. Mr. J. C. Willian, who built his house in that locality a few years ago, has one of the millstones of the old grist-mill in use as a front doorstep. In my boyhood an old unpainted weather-beaten house stood where Mrs. David I. Green's house is now located. This possibly may have been the house built for Stephen Hosmer in 1679.


John Merrill was interested with Thomas Hosmer in the purchase of land north of the saw-mill site, and in the course of a few years the Merrill family owned a large part of the land as far north as our present Flagg Road. The house on Flagg Road


3


HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD


formerly owned by Willis M. Flagg, now the property of A. Raymond Ellis, was originally a Merrill home.


In the years succeeding the coming of Mr. Hosmer, other settlers came from time to time: Lamrock Flowers in 1686, Joseph Gillett in 1694, Samuel Sedgwick in 1695, Isaac Hinsdale in 1697, etc. Lamrock Flowers apparently located just north of the spot where the first church was built. Samuel Sedgwick purchased two or three of the sections south of the South Middle road, embracing over 360 acres of land.


Finally in 1710 the population had increased to such an extent that the people began to desire a community organization of their own, and especially local gospel privileges. Therefore they sent a petition (October 12, 1710) to the General Assembly of Connecticut, then in session in New Haven, as follows:


October 12, 1710


To the Honored General Assembly now sitting in New Haven.


The petition of the inhabitants of that part of the town of Hartford, commonly called by the name of the West Division, showeth: - That your petitioners, being by the providence of God settled something remote from the town of Hartford, do desire the liberty to call or settle, as we may see meet, a minister amongst us to carry on the public worship of God, for which we offer these reasons to your Honors' consideration:


1. The distance from the places is such that a good part of God's time is spent traveling backwards and forwards, which if otherwise we might spend in his service to our comfort.


2. The difficulties of the way that many times must be en- countered with, as bad traveling underfoot, uncomfortableness overhead, and a river not seldom difficult, sometimes impassable; which things render the way not only difficult, but sometimes impracticable.


3. That our small children may be present at the public worship of God, and not be brought up in darkness in such a land of light as this is, but may be instructed in the doctrine of the gospel.


4. Is the difficulties of leaving them, unguarded at home, especially in dangerous times, whereby we do not only expose them to their own fears, but to our enemies' rage, or in hazard thereof.


4


HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD


These things, with the reasons offered, we desire may not only be taken in serious consultation, but also that we may have a present affirmative result and approbation; and your humble petitioners shall ever pray. Which is the humble request of your humble petitioners.


(Signed) Thomas Olmsted, David Ensign, Sen., John Wat- son, Sen., Nath. Arnold, Joseph Butler, Lamrock Flower, Simon Smith, John Merrill, Joseph Gillet, Abraham Merrill, John Webster, Jonathan Bull, Abel Merrill, Thomas Steel, Samuel Sedgwick, Samuel Kellogg, Thomas Morgan, David Ensign, Jun., Cornelius Merry, James Williams, Samuel Shepherd, Thomas Shepherd, William Gaylord, John Scott, Paul Peck, John Peck, Esther Bull, John Watson, Jun.


This petition was referred to a committee for investigation, as appears from the following vote:


Voted in the Lower House, That Lieut. Col. Matthew Allyn, John Moore, Esq., and Mr. Return Strong of Windsor, or any two of them, are a Committee appointed by this Court, to in- spect the reasonableness of this petition, and make their report to this Assembly in May next, to be done at the expense of the inhabitants of the West Division; the said Committee to treat with the town of Hartford and the West Division, endeavoring to bring them to a compliance.


Test. Roger Wolcott, Clerk.


Passed in the Upper House.


Test. C. Stanley, Sec'y.


When the people of Hartford became aware of this action on the part of the West Division residents, a town meeting was called and a remonstrance was sent to the General Assembly in opposition to the petition.


The committee appointed by the General Assembly to make investigations as to the reasonableness of the petition presented a report to the General Assembly on May 10, 1711, as follows:


To the Honorable General Court, sitting at Hartford, May 10, 1711.


Whereas the subscribers were by order of the Hon. Gen'l Court holden at New Haven, October 12, 1710, ordered and appointed to treat with the inhabitants of Hartford upon the


5


HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD


matters of the petition, and endeavor to bring them to a willing- ness and consent thereunto, and also to consider the reasonable- ness of the petition of the inhabitants of the West Division of Hartford, and the ability of the petitioners to maintain a minister: In pursuance of the order of the Hon. Court, and also upon the desire of the inhabitants in general of said Division, did on the 30th of November last past, go upon the place, and by the best information we could get, the inhabitants there upon the spot were 27 [families], the number of souls 164, besides seven houses newly built, and the families belonging to them come, or are like- ly to come shortly. The furlong of lots, as we are informed, will contain about 90 families, with about 60 acres to each family. We further inform this Honorable Court that on the 19th of December last past we went to Hartford, and showed our com- mission, and labored with them to come to a compliance with their neighbors, by the best arguments we could use; all that we could obtain was such an answer as was granted to the inhabitants on the east side of the Great river, as may be seen by the record. As to the reasonableness of their petition, we cannot but appre- hend, (with submission to your Honors) that the people are in a way of duty, to look after liberty of enjoyment of the ordinances amongst them, considering the distance they live, and the ability they are at present in, and likely to be a considerable more.




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