USA > Connecticut > Connecticut yesterday and today : 1635-1935 : celebrating three hundred years of progress in the Constitution state > Part 2
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20, 1754
Dec.
29.1832
Statesman (Lawyer):
Chauncey Goodrich
Hartford
1807-1813
Durham
Oct.
20, 1759
18. 1815
Lawyer
Samuel W. Dana
Middletown
1810-1821
Wallingford
Feb.
13. 1760
July
21.1830
Lawyer
James Lamman
Norwich
1819-1825
Norwich
June
13. 1769
Ang.
7. 1841
Lawyer
Elijah Boardman
New Milford
1821-1823
New Milford
Mar.
7. 1760
Oct.
8. 1823
Business
Henry Waggaman Edwards
New Haven
1823-1827
New Haven
()et.
1779
July
22. 1847
Lawyer
Calvin Willey
Tolland
1825-1831
East Haddam
Sept. 15. 1776
Nov.
8. 1780
Sept.
15, 1846
Farmer
Gideon Tomlinson
Fairfickl
1831-1837
Stratford
Dec.
31. 1780
Oct.
8. 1854
Lawyer (Governor)
Nathan Smith
New Haven
1833-1835
Woodbury
Jan. Ang.
20, 1787
May 31. 1856
Postmaster
Perry Smith
New Milford
1837-1843
Woodbury
May
12,1783
Jnue
8, 1852
Lawyer
Thaddeus Betts
Norwalk
1839-1840
Norwalk
Fcb.
4.1789
Apr.
8. 1840
Lawyer
Jabez Williams Huntington
Norwich
1840-1847
Norwich
Nov.
8, 1788
Nov.
1,1847
Lawyer
Roger Sherman Baldwin
New Haven
1847-1851
New Haven
Jan.
4.1793
Feb. 19, 1863
Lawyer
Truman Smith
Litchfield
1849-1854
Woodbury
Nov. 27. 1791
Nav
3,1884
lawyer
Isaac Toucey
Hartford
1852-1857
Newtown
Nor.
5. 1796
July
30. 1869
lawyer
Francis Gillett
Hartford
1854-1855
Windsor
Nov. 22, 1804
Sept. 19, 1880
Lawyer
James Dixon
Hartford
1857-1869
Enfield
Ang.
5,1814
Mar. 27. 1873
Lawyer
Orris Sanford Ferry
Norwalk
1867-1875
Betle!
Aug. 15, 1823
Nov. 21. 1875
Lawyer
William A. Buckingham
Norwich
1869-1875
Lebanon
May
28. 1804
Fcb.
5. 1875
Business
James Edward English
New Haven
1875-1876
New Haven
Var.
13, 1812
Mar.
2, 1890
Manufacturer
William Wallace Eaton
Hartford
1875-1881
Tolland
Oct.
16, 1816
Sept. 21. 1898
Lawyer
William HT. Barnum
Salisbury
1876-1879
Lime Rock
Sept.
17. 1818
Var. 20. 1889
Orville Hitchcock Platt
Meriden
1879-1905
Washington
July
19. 1827
Apr. 21. 1905
Lawyer
Joseph Roswell Hawley
Hartford
1881-1905
Stewartville, N. C.
Oct.
31. 1826
Mar. 18, 1905
Editor
Morgan Gardner Bulkeley
Hartford
1905-1911
Kast Haddam
Dec.
26. 1837
Nov. 6, 1922
Insurance
Frank B. Brandegce
New London
1905-1924
New London
July
8. 1864
George Payne MeLean
Simsbury
1911-1929
Simsbury
Oct.
7. 1857
Lawyer
Hiram Bingham
New Haven
1924-1933
Honolulu, H. I.
Nov.
19, 1875
...
Manufacturer
Frederic Collin Walcott
Norfolk
1929-1934
New York Mills, N. Y
Fch.
19. 1869
Augustine Lonergan
Hartford
1933-
Thompson
May 20. 1874
Lawyer
Francis T. Maloney
Meriden
1934-
Meriden
Way 51.1894
Insurance Agent
DELEGATES from CONNECTICUT to the CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
Name
Residence
Years of Service
Birthplace
Born
Died
Occupation
Andrew Adams
Litchfield
Danbury
1784-1788
Danbury
Jan.
4,1730
Feb.
3, 1816
Jurist
Joseph Platt Cooke
Wethersfield
1774-1776
Groton
Dec.
24, 1737
Aug. 23, 1789
Merchant
Silas Deane
Windham
1774-79-1780-83
Windham
Sept. 28, 1721
May 13. 1807
Jurist
Eliphalet Dyer
New Haven
1787-1788
Northampton, Mass.
Apr.
8, 1750
Apr.
5. 1826
Lawyer
Pierrepont Edwards
Windsor
1783-1786
Montville
Aug.
25, 1728
Jan.
12. 1816
Lawyer
William Hillhouse
1736
Aug.
4.1780
Lawyer
Titus Hosmer
Norwich
1780-84-1787-88
Norwich
Apr.
19,1736
Oct. 16, 1800
Lawyer
Benjamin Huntington
Norwich
1776-1784
Windham
July
3,1731
Jan.
5,1796
Lawyer
*Samuel Huntington
Jurist
William Samuel Johnson
Stratford
1784-1787
Stratford
Mar.
17,1733
Jan. 26. 1806
Jurist
Richard Law
Dec.
9. 1743
Sept. 30, 1835
Lawyer
Stephen Mix Mitchell
Hartford
1778-1783
Coventry
Dec.
28. 1736
Nar. 29. 1822
Lawyer
Tesse Root
New Haven
1774-1784
Newton, Mass.
Apr.
19,1721
July
23, 1793
Jurist
*Roger Sherman
East Iladdam
1778-1779
East Haddam
Joseph Spencer
Nov.
7,1738
Aug.
21. 1802
Lawyer
Jedidiah Strong
Aug. 23. 1740
Oct.
4.1819
lawyer
Jonathan Sturges
Nov. 23, 1745
July
23, 1778
Business
Joseph Trumbull
July
6,1730
Sept.
22, 1817
Town Clerk
James Wadsworth
July 12, 1743
Apr.
30. 1804
Politician
Jeremiah Wadsworth
Apr.
18,1731
Aug.
2.1811
Jurist
*William Williams
Nov. 20, 1726
Dec.
1,1797
Jurist
1775-78-1780-84 Windsor
*Oliver Wolcott
Litchfickl
1777-80-1781-82
Stratford
1736
Nov. 26, 1797
Lawyer
Lawyer
1777-1784
Windsor
Apr. 29, 1745
Oliver Ellsworth --
New London
Watertown
1775-76-1777-79
Watertown
Wethersfield
Wethersfield
1783-84-1785-86 1787-88
Fairfield
Fairfield
1774-1787
1785-1786
Farmington
John Treadwell
Lebanon
1783-84-1785-86
Durham
Durliam
1787-1788
Hartford
Hartford
Lebanon
1776-78-1783-84
Lebanon
Mar. 11, 1737
19. 1823
Lawyer
Farmington
1774-1775
Lebanon
1714
13. 1789
Military
Litchfield
1782-1784
Litchfield
7. 1727
Nov. 14. 1819
New London
1778-78-1781-84
Mitford
8. 1769
Dec.
6. 1835
lawyer
John Milton Niles
Hartford
1835-39-1843-49
Windsor
Dec.
31.1764
12. 1851
Lawyer
David Daggett
New Haven
1813-1819
Attleboro, Mass.
AApr.
23. 1858
Jurist
Samuel Augustus Foot
Cheshire
1827-1833
Cheshire
Dec. 14. 1807
Sept. 30. 1879
Farmer
LaFayette Sibine Foster
Norwich
1855-1867
Franklin
Manufacturer
().t. 14, 1924
Explorer
Nov. 26. 1807
* Also signers of the Declaration of Independence.
41161
1635 THE STORY OF CONNECTICUT'S TERCENTENARY 1935
The plan for celebrating the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the Settle- ment of Connecticut was inaugurated by the Connecticut Historical Society through its president, Dr. George C. F. Williams. The General Assembly of 1929 created a Commission on the Observance of the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the Settlement of Con- necticut, and Governor Trumbull ap- pointed seven members, with Dr. Wil- liams as Chairman. This Commission reported in January, 1931, recom- mendations for the celebration, which have been substantially followed. All told, the State appropriations for the Tercentenary amounted to $160,000.
For over four years, until his death in 1933, Dr. Williams wisely guided the formation of plans and directed the earlier steps in their execution. As his successor, Governor Cross appointed Mr. Samuel H. Fisher, who has since continued in charge. By additional ap- pointments, the Commission now con- sists of twelve, including Governor Cross as Honorary Chairman, all serv- ing without compensation. The aim of the Commission has been a com- memoration befitting the Land of Steady Habits.
Mr. Fisher was by virtue of long associations with problems of manage- ment and directorship. the logical suc- cessor to Dr. Williams. In addition, Mr. Fisher has one of the widest and closest acquaintanceships of almost any one in the state with prominent men throughout Connecticut, a circumstance which was of course of invaluable aid in organizing and marshalling forces for the state and local Tercentenary celebrations.
As the work of the Tercentenary Com- mission closed, Governor Wilbur L. Cross paid the following tribute to Mr. Fisher: "Now that it is all over, I am taking the first chance to thank Colonel Fisher for the wonderful way in which he planned and carried out to a successful conclusion, the Tercentenary celebration.
"It was a large undertaking to bring in as he did the local celebrations through- out the state. His enthusiasm inspired municipal and town committees which he organized everywhere.
"He left nothing undone, and at last brought the celebration to a magnificent climax in the Capitol City by a parade representative of the activities of Con- necticut such as has never before been witnessed.
"Colonel Fisher's achievement meets with the admiration of us all."
COLONEL SAMUEL H. FISHER
Officers -- The State of Connecticut
Governor, WILBUR L. CROSS, New Haven
Lieutenant-Governor, T. FRANK HAYES, Waterbury
Secretary, C. JOHN SATTI, New London Treasurer, JOHN S. ADDIS, New Milford Comptroller, CHARLES C. SWARTZ, South Norwalk
Attorney-General, EDWARD J. DALY, Hartford Speaker of the House of Representatives, WILLIAM HANNA, Bethel Chief Justice, WILLIAM M. MALTBIE, Granby
The State Tercentenary Commission
GOVERNOR WILBUR LUCIUS CROSS, Honorary Chairman, 1932-1935, New Haven *GEORGE CLINTON FAIRCHILD WILLIAMS, Chairman, 1929-1933, Hartford SAMUEL HERBERT FISHER, Chairman, 1933-1935 Litchfield JULIA LINCOLN RAY ANDREWS, Secretary, 1929-1935 Hartford
JAMES ROWLAND ANGELL, 1929-1935
New Haven
MORGAN BULKELEY BRAINARD, 1935
Hartford
GEORGE MATTHEW DUTCHER, Historian, 1933-1935
Middletown ELIJAH KENT HUBBARD, 1929-1935; Treasurer, 1933 Middletown WILLIAM MILLS MALTBIE, 1932-1935; Acting Chairman, 1933 Granby ANNE ROGERS MINOR, 1929-1935 Waterford
SETH LOW PIERREPONT, 1933-1935; Treasurer, 1933-1935 Ridgefield
WILLIAM HUTCHINSON PUTNAM, 1935; Treasurer, 1935 Hartford
ROBBINS BATTELL STOECKEL, 1929-1935; Treasurer, 1933 Norfolk
Bridgeport
*GEORGE WAKEMAN WHEELER, 1929-1932 HERBERT L. CRAPO, Executive Secretary, 1934-1935
MARGARET M. ALLARDYCE, Recording Secretary, 1931-1935
PAUL W. COOLEY, Assistant to Chairman, 1935
ALBERT R. ROGERS, Director of Celebration, 1935 * Deceased
THE STORY OF CONNECTION IS LERCENTENARI 1.
Historical Publications
Early in 1931 the Tercenteary Com- mission began to develop its plans by cre- ating committees to secure cooperation in specific undertakings. Among the first to be appointed and begin work was the Committee on Historical Publications. The members of this Committee at once found themselves in hearty agreement that, instead of undertaking to compile a monumental history of the Colony and State, there should be prepared and pub- lished a series of Pamphlets, each of which should provide a comprehensive treatment of a particular topic or episode in Connecticut history, that might be read in about an hour. Thus far forty- seven Pamphlets have been issued; most of them consist of thirty-two pages and sell for twenty-five cents each.
The excellent appearance of these Pamphlets is due to the publishers, the Yale University Press. Thirty-eight com- petent authorities have heartily cooperat- ed by contributing the forty-seven manu- scripts without remuneration. The first twenty to be issued were edited by the first chairman of the Committee, Profes- sor Charles M. Andrews of Yale Univer- sity, to whom is due much of the credit for planning the series. His successor in the chairmanship, Professor George M. Dutcher of Wesleyan University, has edited the later numbers. A score of ex- cellent manuscripts is in hand for publi- cation if funds are available.
Numerous historical pamphlets have also been published by Local Committese and others.
Official Souvenirs
In November, 1934, appeared the of- ficial Commemorative Medal in bronze designed by Mr. Henry G. Kreis of Es- sex. Mr. George Dudley Seymour was chairman of the Committee which worked out the problems involved in preparing this very appropriate souvenir.
The same artist and Committee pre- pared the design for the Tercentenary fifty-cent piece, of which 25,000 were minted by the United States Government.
The United States Government also issued a three-cent postage stamp with a Charter Oak design in commemoration of the Tercentenary.
Sets of four souvenir plates designed by Mr. Frederick Dunn were placed on sale by the Commission in April, 1935. The four designs show, respectively, the Old State House, Hartford; the Old State House, New Haven; the Wyllys Mansion and the Charter Oak, Hart- ford; and the Meeting House, Litchfield.
Achievement and Meaning of the Tercentenary
At the close of the year 1635 fewer than 300 white persons, rudely housed in temporary shelters, were living in Connecticut. Now, in 1935, there are 333 persons to every square mile in the State. Then the natural resources of Connecticut were untouched. Today they are so effectively utilized and sup- plemented by human intelligence and skill that the people of the State are esti- mated to have a larger per capita wealth than those of any other state east of the Mississippi. Then there existed no political organization. Today Connecti- cut yields place to none in the completeness and effectiveness of its governmental system and the high character of its civic life. Then there was no school. Now schools of every grade from kindergarten to university are splendidly housed, admirably equipped, and ably staffed-and these facilities are available to every child in the State. Then there was not a single organized congregation or a single church building. Today congregations of many faiths worship in beau- tiful churches in every community in the State. Then there was no manufac- turing save what little each individual did with his own hands. Today extensive plants with highly developed machinery produce regularly hundreds of thousands .of different articles, from pins to airplanes. These are some of the changes and achievements which the Tercentenary has commemorated.
More important than these, however, have been the lives of aspiration, toil and attainment of the hundreds of thousands of individuals for whom Con- necticut has been home in the three centuries. We of today are the heirs of the high ideals and noble achievements of the Connecticut men and women of the three hundred years that have passed. It will not suffice that we, who are their beneficiaries, should merely transmit our inheritance undiminished. We must, if we have the spirit of our forefathers, reach out to loftier ideals, more exalt- ed living, and more productive effort.
CONNECTICUT, OUR STATE, TO THEE WE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE AND SERVICE!
Local Celebrations
The outstanding feature of the Connecticut Tercentenary Celebration and the one which has distinguished it from all similar affairs has been the local celebrations. Over one hundred and fifty of the one hundred and sixty-nine towns in the State have had their own local observance of the Tercentenary, sometimes in cooperation with one or more adjacent towns. The programs were often elaborate, extending over several days, even a week. As members of local committees and as participants in the several events, thousands of the citizens of Connecticut have borne an active part in the Tercentenary celebration. All this has been a matter of local initiative, enterprise, and expense. The part of the State Commission has been one merely of advice, cooperation, and approval.
Everywhere the exercises were of excellent quality and the attendance extraordinary. While the programs differed widely in form, they frequently included formal parades, often with elaborate floats, the presentation of pageants, plays, dances, and concerts, and various forms of sporting events. There were usually religious exercises and sometimes historical addresses.
Old houses were shown, all sorts of articles of historic interest, samples of school work, and specimens of the natural history of the region were exhib- ited. Often one of the most interesting parts of these exhibits included tools and utensils illustrative of domestic and agricultural life and handicrafts in the early days. Another feature which often attracted attention was the exhibit of old-time costumes. In several towns extensive industrial expositions were also arranged.
Connecticut has always been and still is a State of towns. These wide- spread and excellent local celebrations have afforded most gratifying evidence that the town life of Connecticut is still healthy, vigorous, and enterprising.
1635 THE STORY OF CONNECTICUT'S TERCENTENARY 1935
Public Meetings
The Tercentenary celebration was formally opened in Bushnell Memorial Hall, Hartford, with a joint meeting of the General Assembly and the Supreme Court of Errors at noon on April 26, 1935, commemorating the first meeting of the General Court on April 26, 1636. There were addresses by the Gov- ernor, the Chief Justice, Mr. John C. Blackall for the Senate, and Mr. Noah H. Swayne for the House of Representatives.
On Saturday afternoon, June 1, 1935, there was held in the Yale Bowl, New Haven, a choral concert in which seventy-two singing organizations of the State numbering three thousand voices, assisted by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, presented an impressive program of fourteen numbers representative of the music of the last three centuries. The conductors were Messrs. Ralph L. Baldwin, Hartford, and Richard Donovan and David Stanley Smith of New Haven. This was undoubtedly the most remarkable musical event in Con- necticut history.
A concert by a male chorus of three hundred voices, led by Mr. G. Loring Burwell, was presented in the Music Shed at Norfolk, Saturday evening, Octo- ber 5, 1935, with the assistance of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, con- ducted by Dean David Stanley Smith. Both these concerts were arranged by. Mr. James S. Stevens and his Committee on Music.
"America's Making in Connecticut," a pageant of the races, was given three performances in Bushnell Memorial Hall on the evenings of October 8, 9, and 10, 1935. This pageant, representative of the various racial groups now dwelling in Connecticut, was arranged by Mr. Percy J. Burrell, assisted by Professor Robert E. Will and Miss Meta Bunce. The production recognized very effectively the contributions to Connecticut life made by its groups of diverse national origins who are all now proud citizens of the State.
On Friday afternoon, October 11, 1935, a reception to the guests of the State was held in the Memorial Room of the State Library. This was followed by a dinner at the Hartford Club for distinguished guests and persons active in making the Tercentenary celebration a success. The arrangements for these two functions were made by a Committee, with Mr. H. H. Armstrong as chair- man, ably assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Talbot O. Freeman. The evening was set aside for an historical meeting in Bushnell Memorial Hall for which this pro- gram has been prepared.
Saturday morning, October 12, has been appointed for a parade with floats to be held in Hartford. The Marshal is Colonel George A. Wardinski, the Chief of Staff is Colonel Joseph F. Nolan, and the chairman of the Com- mittee on Floats is Mr. H. H. Skerrett. In the evening of that day there is to be a display of fireworks in Pope Park, Hartford, and a costume ball in the State Armory, New Haven.
Religious Observance
Ever since the first settlers came to Connecticut as organized congrega- tions, religion has played a most significant part in the life of the Common- wealth. It has been fitting, therefore, that religious observances should have a prominent place in the Tercentenary. Special church services have been in- cluded in the programs of many local celebrations, and the clergy, the churches, and their organizations have taken an important part in parades, pageants, and other exercises.
It was early decided to set aside Saturday and Sunday, October 5 and 6, 1935, as the Connecticut Sabbath. On these days suitable services were held in practically every meeting-house, church and synagogue in the State. In the afternoon or evening of Sunday the 6th or Sunday the 13th, union services were arranged in all the principal centers. Reverend Dr. Oscar E. Maurer of New Haven has been the chairman of the Committee on Clergy which has guided the plans. By action of the Federal Council of Churches, the Connecti- cut Sabbath has been given nationwide as well as statewide recognition. It is significant that this is the first time that Saturday as well as Sunday has received formal public recognition as the Sabbath in Connecticut.
Educational Features
The State Foard of Education, Commissioner Ernest W. Butterfield, and his staff, and the school authori- ties throughout the State, have co- operated admirably in both the State and Local commemorations of the Tercentenary. The children have re- sponded enthusiastically. School pa- pers have printed special numbers and articles. Dramatic episodes of Con- necticut history, tableaux, and other exercises have been presented. For the use of schools a series of historical scenarios entitled Episodes from Co- lonial Connecticut, was prepared by Mrs. Elizabeth W. Norris and Miss Alice J. Walker.
The Commission's Committee on Education in the public libraries have cooperated admirably with the schools and with the Local Committees. Schools published in 1933 two pam- phlets for guidance in teaching Con- necticut history.
A Committee on Prize Essays, un- der the chairmanship of President Remsen B. Ogilby of Trinity Col- lege, arranged for a statewide contest in three sections: grades 10 to 12, grades 7 to 9, and lower grades. In each section first, second, and third prizes, and five honorable mentions were awarded. The prizes were con- tributed by the Connecticut Society of Colonial Dames of America, and awarded by Governor Cross at public exercises in Bushnell Memorial Hall on May 10, 1935. Many hundred essays were submitted in the contest.
A Tercentenary assembly of edu- cators gathered in Hartford on Sep- tember 20 to 21, 1935. On Monday morning, September 23, 1935, the schools throughout the State, 400,000 pupils participating, observed the Ter- centenary with suitable programs.
THENDORY OF CONNECTICUT'S TERCENTENARY DORT
and Cooperation
Through the Committee on Public- ity, with Mr. Maurice S. Sherman, editor of the Hartford Courant, as chairman, with the generous coopera- tion of the newspapers of the State the plans and activities of the Tercen- tenary and the history and achieve- ments of Connecticut have been ad- mirably presented to the public. Many newspapers of other states have also given liberal space to Connecticut in its 'Tercentenary year.
Twenty-one well-equipped infor- mation booths of attractive design have been maintained by the Commission at the principal highway entrances to the State and at other convenient points, under the supervision of Mr. George V. Beche. Other booths have been es- tablished and served by local commit- tees. More than one hundred thou- sand visitors to the State, between April and October, 1935, have thus been guided and assisted.
Over each of the broadcasting sta- tions in the State many radio address- es by representatives of the Commis- sion and of the Local Committees, and other programs have been given. An unusual achievement was the broad- casting by W'TIC of the Choral Con- cert in the Yale Bowl.
The Program Committee, headed by Mr. Walter E. Batterson of Hart- ford, and the Committee on Civic Clubs and Fraternal Organizations, with Mr. Albert E. Lavery of Fair- field as chairman, have aided in stim- ulating interest and enlisting coopera- tion.
Excellent maps, calendars, post- cards, and historical souvenirs have been distributed in large numbers or sold by the Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution, the League of Wo- men Voters, the Southern New Eng- land Telephone Company, The ÆEtna Casualty and Surety Company, the Travelers Insurance Company, the Yale University Press, the Bridgeport- City Trust Company, and other or- ganizations and companies, which have also rendered other services to pro- mote the Tercentenary.
OFFICIAL PORTRAIT OF DR. GEORGE S. GODARD, STATE LIBRARIAN
Acknowledgments
By generous permission of the State Library Committee and of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Errors, the Headquarters of the Commission, during 1934 and 1935, have been located in the State Library and Supreme Court Building.
For the constant and unfailing courtesies of Dr. George S. Godard, State Libra- rian, and members of his staff, the Commission expresses its heartiest appreciation.
The Commission is grateful to its executive officers and to the members of its clerical staff for their devoted and unwearying services.
To the numerous Federal officials, to all the State and Local officials, to the chair- men and members of all State and Local Committees, and to the thousands of citizens throughout the State who have contributed most heartily to the success of the Tercen- tenary celebration, the Commission gladly acknowledges its deep indebtedness for their participation in honoring the memory of the founders and builders of Connecticut.
THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY
THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY
world the first electric lighting plant, when he began to supply fitty-nine customers with elec-
tricity from his first Pearl Street station in New York on Septem- ber 4, 1882. Three years later The Bristol Electric Light Com- pany, at Bristol, Connecticut, was incorporated as a joint stock com- pany under the general laws of the state. Within four months the company began to light Bristol's main street from a dynamo which was driven by the steam engine in a local factory.
Thus, Bristol was the first com- munity of the 123 towns now served by The Connecticut Light & Power Company to have elec- tricity. In the following year, 1886, the Winsted Gas Company obtained charter rights to "gener- ate and sell" electricity, and The Meriden Electric Light Company, especially incorporated for the same purpose, was granted similar powers. The earliest use of elec- tricity in the state, as far as avail- able records show, dates back to April 7, 1883, when the railroad station on Asylum Street, at Hart- ford, was lighted with electricity for the first time. At the turn of the century, seventeen years later, the larger cities in the state each boasted an electric light plant which lighted the main street and a few business buildings and homes. These pioneer enterprises started as joint stock companies under the general laws of the state. In most cases they were chartered by the state in the suc- ceeding year.
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