USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1928, Volume II > Part 5
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The earlier saving of the city from the hurly-burly, so far noted, was not the work of a moment nor yet of one wealthy ad- mirer of the artistic. In the day of it, though there was the stone bridge as a new basis for faith, it seemed like a long and serious battle. The reader in the future would not get the full conception if at this point the temptation prevailed to give the account of the next structure in the city's civic group, the Munici- pal Building, without a word relative to what the people were doing. Enough has been told to indicate the growth in cultural life, but that did not represent the whole community. Progress along all lines meant also the development of practicality and hard business principles. Human nature was as varied as in Hooker's day, or as in this at the close of the town's third century.
In this immediate matter of civic improvements the Municipal Art Society of 1904 continued to do a great amount of construc- tive work, in the nature of bulletins, speeches and meetings. Its membership included Mrs. Horace Bushnell, Mrs. Frank W. Cheney her daughter, Col. Frank W. Cheney, Mrs. Appleton R.
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EXHIBITION HALL, CONNECTICUT HISTORICAL SOCIETY Second Floor, Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford
SUPREME COURT, STATE LIBRARY AND MEMORIAL HALL BUILDING, FACING THE CAPITOL ON CAPITOL AVENUE, HARTFORD
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Hillyer and in the list other familiar names, like Goodwin, Rob- erts, Robinson, Sumner, Warner, Colt, Bunce, Clark, Beach, Dun- ham, Hamersley, Holcombe, Buck, Enders, Chase, Ferguson, Gay, Fenn, Garvan, McCook, Luther, Keller, Johnson, Jewell, Holden, Greene, Gordy, Henney, Hapgood, English, Miel, Merrow, Root, Russell, Palmer, Redfield, Riggs, Pitkin, Perkins, Mitchell, McManus, Zunner, Trumbull, Sanborn, Woodward, Taylor and Talcott. Mr. Flagg was succeeded by Charles A. Goodwin as president in 1906 and he by John M. Holcombe in 1907. Walter S. Schutz was secretary till 1907 and was succeeded by Charles W. Burpee and Henry R. Buck. City Engineer Frederick L. Ford (now of New Haven) and Superintendent of Parks George A. Parker furnished much material for the discussions on streets and the grouping of buildings. One quick result was the substitu- tion of the state armory for the obnoxious roundhouse which the railroad already had abandoned. Mr. Ford emphasized that already over $5,000,000 was invested in land and buildings around the Capitol and the Hartford residents were the local trustees. John M. Carrere, foremost specialist of the time, came here from New York, after making an exhaustive study of local conditions, and in an address at the Twentieth Century Club turned over to the society and the city what still stands as the "Carrere plan." One feature of this, which was not adopted, was a mall from the Municipal Building through Elm Street to the Capitol, connecting the two main groups; another was the cleaning up of Park River on either side of the Main Street bridge. The most that was done in the line of the latter suggestion was to get control of the old Daniels Mill property and by low dams give more depth to the stream through Bushnell Park. Other of his ideas, like the extension of Morgan Street westerly, were not put into effect because of the great expense, but they are still subjects of periodi- cal discussion.
It was into the preservation and restoration of the Bulfinch State House that the society threw much of its energy, and for a time against severe odds. One theory was that the building could be moved to some other place and the site be made into a park, and another was that it could be torn down and sold for business purposes. The governmental building monstrosity on its own little park to the east acted as a perpetual pall. The
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announcement of Mr. Morgan's plan for the civic group had removed one early bone of contention-the location of the im- peratively needed city hall. So unavailing was the struggle for the State House when the city should vacate it that an offer of $10,000 from the Colonial Dames, under the leadership of Mrs. John M. Holcombe, if the city would give as much more toward repairs, was rejected by the Common Council and later the report of that body's own committee recommending an appropriation of $45,000 by the city was voted down at the polls. The coat of brown paint which had been put over the original brick years before had been removed, and that seemed to be considered all- sufficient despite the expert report that the building must be ex- tensively repaired or it would collapse. The paint-removal was the sole result, so far, of a petition to the Common Council in 1906, signed by Governor Henry Roberts, former Governor McLean, Bishop Tierney, Bishop Brewster, Judge Nathaniel Ship- man and a long list of other citizens of Hartford and of other towns represented by such signers as President Hadley of Yale and Chief Justice Simeon E. Baldwin. The appeal was for the State House because of its beauty, its history and its architect. It recited how reverently Boston had cherished its Bulfinch State House and Faneuil Hall; and all America, that architect's greatest work, the Capitol at Washington. It dwelt upon the past history of the building and looked into the future for the judgment of the generations to come. The awakening of history interest through- out the nation was recalled and comparison was made with the devotion shown in foreign cities for their relics of the past.
The romantic story of the building of the State House and how it came to be one of the most precious architectural and historic relics in the land has been followed through in these pages since 1796. The press, as always when a matter of civic pride is to the fore, joined in with Municipal Society agitators and printed col- umns of history and quotations. The address of Mayor George G. Sumner at the dedication as a city hall when the building was turned over to the city in 1879, after the completion of the new Capitol, was recalled, in which he said, "We drop all partisanship when the best good of Hartford is concerned, and the cooperative feeling tends to loftier aspirations." The Business Men's Asso- ciation, which together with the Board of Trade was soon to con-
READING ROOM, STATE LIBRARY, HARTFORD
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solidate with the younger Chamber of Commerce, had voted against retention, taking the practical view, but the persuasive Mayor Edward L. Smith was cheered when he said at the asso- ciation's annual dinner in 1911 that the city was more than bricks and mortar, chimneys and smoke, wheels and steam; it was the home of thousands of people who were here not alone because they found occupation but also because of the beauty, character and history. "In the history of the world, the strip of territory from Boston to Washington is bound to become as famous as any corner of Greece or Italy or any part of continental Europe where men have worked their wonders."
Psychological analysis of this contest may reveal that there had not yet been (perhaps has not yet been) full adjustment to the great changes that came with the new century. For one thing, in this special connection, building, which had been lax in 1899, was receiving a tremendous impetus and Hartford was taking the lead over all the state. But to finish the State House incident : It was at a meeting of delegates from various societies that a com- mittee of fifteen leading citizens, Hon. Morgan G. Bulkeley the honorary chairman, was appointed to conduct a new campaign. The city government was represented thereon by Philip A. Mason (already an expert in construction), secretary; Frank A. Hag- arty, of the buildings committee; Walter S. Schutz, Jacob H. Greene and James C. Mahon. In 1916, the Municipal Building having been dedicated and the question now one of restoration, the Colonial Dames renewed their offer of $10,000 and added $250 to it for restoring the room of the state secretary, while privately employed experts were finding that the expense of com- plete restoration would be much greater than had been expected. In the administration of Mayor Hagarty in 1917, the Common Council's proposed appropriation was defeated by the people. Thereupon former Senator Bulkeley offered to give $5,000 if nine others would give the same amount, and in a fortnight a total of $88,000 was forthcoming. An electric clock for the dome was given by Capt. C. H. Wickham in memory of his father and other donations of fixtures were made, including a lantern in memory of Rev. Dr. Parker and crystal chandeliers for each story, one of them in memory of Mrs. Charles F. Brooker of Ansonia. The work of revealing what was the original arrangement of rooms and stairs and of duplicating rails, panels and doorposts
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was one that tested the well-known skill of Robert Porteus. Aid was rendered by elderly citizens like Leverett Brainard, who gave of their reminiscences of their boyhood days when it was a popu- lar sport to steal into the building and climb up into the dome, there to carve their initials and occasionally, with retreat safely covered, make the old bell strike. Many of those carvings, of initials conspicuous in Hartford history, can be seen today. The building was opened to the public January 1, 1921. Through the war pericd, before the work of restoring began, the building was used for sundry purposes, the first floor for the Red Cross and kindred organizations, the second floor as enlistment quarters for the State Guard and other rooms for the Liberty Loan com- mittees which had large booths in front.
The Municipal Building was dedicated November 4, 1915, the key being presented by F. Irvin Davis of Davis & Brooks (Wil- liam F.) the architects. Mayor Joseph H. Lawler, chairman; Judge Edward L. Smith, Fred J. Bliss, Morgan G. Bulkeley, Jr., Willis E. Caulkins and Maj. E. Henry Hyde were the building commission ; John T. Clancy, Thomas F. Leavy, John W. Guilfoil, Francis W. Cole, William P. Curry and Samuel H. Havens the aldermanic committee, and Col. Louis R. Cheney, former Con- gressman Augustine Lonergan, Isidore Wise, Judge William F. Henney and Willie O. Burr the citizens committee. Rev. Dr. Parker offered the prayer and Bishop Nilan pronounced the bene- diction. Mayor Lawler delivered the address. The city had paid $155,000 for land in addition to the Morgan gift. The architects were chosen in competition along lines laid down by the commis- sion with Mr. Carrere acting as adviser. Of the late Georgian period and in story composition, the structure is comparable with the State House. The offices are in galleries around an atrium that extends to the sky-lighted ceiling and is decorated with historic borders and panels. The mayor's reception room is thirty-five feet square, richly decorated. For office rooms there are nearly 40,000 square feet. As has been said, the exterior is faced with Bethel white granite. No provision was made for a Council cham- ber. When the joint board was reduced to one, the aldermen utilized the City Court room.
City Engineer Ford spoke of the Hartford Public High School as among the buildings associated with the Capitol group. Refer-
GEORGE S. GODARD State Librarian
MUNICIPAL BUILDING, HARTFORD
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ence to the airplane pictures in these volumes will show that well it might be counted as one of them if it were only a beautiful Park River that intervened. But there is also a not-yet smokeless rail- road and on the school side of it at present only such commercial and residence buildings as can still endure. There are possibili- ties in that narrow strip which one day, with more favoring circumstances, may be developed through the City Plan Commis- sion which is the successor of the Municipal Art Society.
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The bridge, these buildings-and there were to be more of them-came for most part from public funds, tax-paid, or from generous donors. Study of a community is negative if it does not also take into consideration what comes from individual giv- ings as a measure of the people's recognition of special needs- the proof of the cultural, humanitarian, philanthropic standards of the people as a whole. Tendency and character of entertain- ments and sports are gauged by box-office receipts, at fixed prices; to subscribe freely where indirect return is conceivable only by minds cultivated up to a realization of it is quite another matter.
In finding itself, this new generation with its bewildering problems-problems which, one must not forget while concentrat- ing on one particular county, were national as well as local-had forceful local precedents. The precedents are unforgetable if the past has been faithfully reviewed. Several illustrations were to be furnished in this sudden-expansion period. Two of them, for universal and non-sectarian welfare, were in the old field of the Christian associations.
The Y. M. C. A., with property valued today at nearly two million, is regarded as having two building units, the one pre- viously mentioned as completed in 1903 and the one completed in 1914. In the general effort to assemble and build into the civic structure, the genial power of both the Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. was to be acknowledged by the public in its very act of dubbing them affectionately the "Y" and the "Y-W." The tone in which these letters are spoken, on the street, is an attest not of Yankee fondness for abbreviation but of a regard so common as to have become unconscious. There can be no simpler or higher en- comium. Because of that, only bald facts of the era's develop- ment need be contributed here. When enlargement of accommo-
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dations became essential, when newcomers needed sleeping-rooms and a place to eat, when educational opportunity was more in demand, when religious influence was widening, when gymnastics were more sought for by non-members as well, when the virtue in attracting boys was being demonstrated, when incursions into the factory districts for sports and fellowship were yielding large returns, when social work was adding to popularity, when a women's auxiliary was cooperating-when wise management was showing its broad grasp and men of affairs in the community were continuing to lend their aid-the Hillyers were again ready. In 1912, to encourage in the appeal for funds for the second unit, Mr. and Mrs. Appleton R. Hillyer gave $150,000 and with a total of $315,000 in subscriptions, the second unit was opened in 1915 for the over 3,000 members. This is the large extension on Pearl Street especially for dormitory and boys' clubs but it also means swimming pool, better gymnasium equipment, better arrange- ment of rooms and halls, a cafeteria and larger working force.
The accommodations for 1915 are much too scant for 1928. Secretary George C. Hubert and the board of management espe- cially are asking for an increase in endowment and then for more space at this location or elsewhere, and perhaps by branches. The present endowment is over half a million, and the funds and bequests bear the names of Mr. and Mrs. Hillyer, Miss Clara E. Hillyer, John J. Corning, George B. Thayer, Orlando Brown, Charles B. Smith, Charles A. Jewell, William E. Sugden, E. E. Marvin, Silas Chapman, Jr., Timothy Drake, E. F. Harrison, James M. Thomson, Fannie Avery Welcher, Eliza Hammond, E. F. Harrison, Josephine Williams, W. J. McConville, George H. Fitts, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel R. Howe, Gail B. Munsill, Charlotte J. Hillyer, Almira D. Cross, and for the women's auxiliary- scholarship funds and funds of Mrs. W. J. McConville and Paulina S. Barker. Pending in probate are those of Miss Cor- nelia Camp, Miss Katherine Camp, Newman Hungerford, Wil- liam A. Erving, Mrs. Emma Woods, William B. Clark, John F. Tracy and William H. Watrous. For many years and until her death Mrs. Julia M. Turner of Philadelphia gave freely for the educational work as her daughter, Mrs. Mary M. Hooker, is now doing. Camp Jewell at Lake Swanzey, N. H., and Camp Rainbow on the Farmington at Rainbow are important adjuncts of the "Y." At the request of the colored people, who had in-
Y. W. C. A. MAIN BUILDING, ANN AND CHURCH STREETS, HARTFORD
Y. M. C. A. BUILDING, PEARL AND TRINITY STREETS, HARTFORD
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creased in number 300 per cent after the World war, an inter- racial committee was formed and now there are branches of the "Y" for their special benefit.
Two members of the Board of Management have been mem- bers of the association since the beginning, and 1928 is the semi- centennial year. Of these Henry H. Goodwin has been on the board forty-nine years and J. Allen Wiley forty years. There have been four general secretaries, Mr. Hubert's predecessors having been W. A. Wells, George M. Hersey and Noel H. Jacks. Mr. Wells' predecessor, George H. Woods, who served from 1878 to 1882, had the title of manager. The predecessors of Dr. Henry C. Russ in the presidency have been : Frank S. Brown, J. M. Allen, James A. Smith, Charles A. Jewell, Charles E. Thompson, Daniel R. Howe, L. P. Waldo Marvin, Curtis P. Gladding, Ralph O. Wells, Arthur W. Fox. The Hartford County Y. M. C. A., well organ- ized, has its quarters on Haynes Street.
The Boy Scouts Association, Hartford Council, established in 1913, has its headquarters on Allyn Street, and the Girl Scouts theirs on Broad Street.
It was in 1917 that the Young Women's Christian Association took its place among the foremost institutions of its kind in the state by the building of its new home at the corner of Ann and Church streets. It had been a power for good since 1867, when a group of "ladies"-to use the generic word of the day-met to hear an address on the Ladies' Christian Association just starting in America. The first rooms formally occupied in Hartford were at the corner of Asylum and Haynes streets. The mem- bership the first year was 422, and none of the girls was in busi- ness; the present membership is about 1,700 and one-third have employment. The original purpose was to aid seekers of homes and of work. Meetings were chiefly for Bible study and prayer. Little girls started the building fund by making articles to sell. What with gifts and all, there was $23,000 in the treasury in 1871, and the present residence building on Church Street was built in 1872-the first in the United States.
James R. Averill left in trust $75,000 to accumulate till the last beneficiary under his will died, which was not till 1923, after which the interest could be used. The will was not probated till seven years after Mr. Averill's supposed death in some unknown
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place in the mountains or elsewhere. The Young Women's Branch began with a club of newsgirls in a room on Chapel Street in 1900 and a building near the residence building was provided by purchase by the Security Company on approval by the Legis- lature, which in 1883 had permitted the use of $5,000 a year from the Averill estate. The Young Women's Department was estab- lished in 1908, when Miss E. M. Brownell was general secretary, succeeded by Miss H. E. Beecher. The site for the new building was bought in 1912. The public responded generously to the call for funds in 1917 and the building was completed the next year, during the presidency of Miss Alice Wilder Smith, and the secre- taryship of Miss Emily Beecher. The two branches were made one, now under the direction of Miss Primrose Woolverton, gen-
eral secretary. Mrs. William Haine is the president. There are all the facilities for club life, including gymnasium, pool and cafeteria. Mrs. Charles B. Smith was the first president, and Mrs. M. J. Case the first general secretary. Francis R. Cooley is president of the board of trustees.
Samuel P. Avery, one of Hartford's most generous benefactors as will have been noted, gave the association Wangum Lodge, in Rocky Hill, for a summer place, which later was sold, and a new camp has recently been opened in Somers. Mr. Avery also gave the old Putnam Street orphanage, providing it could be used as a residence building. When it was found to be unsuitable, an arrangement was made with the Hartford Seminary Foundation, another beneficiary under Mr. Avery's will, by which the former Hosmer Hall of the seminary, on Broad Street, was transferred to the association, the seminary having removed to its new loca- tion around Elizabeth Street. The hall was torn down and a new residence building, to accommodate 140 girls, was erected, Mrs. Philip P. Barton being chairman of the building committee. The former residence building will be sold.
The Averill fund now amounts to $1,150,000. Other funds include the Avery fund of $75,000, the Silas Chapman, Jr., fund of $10,000, and the Sarah Wright and Martha Breckenridge Wells funds for less amounts.
The influence that went out from the United Jewish Charities of Hartford was vital. Its offices in the Talmud Torah Building,
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(Photographed by 118 Photo, Sec. A. S. C. N. G.)
ENTRANCE TO HARTFORD BY RAIL FROM THE SOUTH
Capitol in center of Bushnell Park, with Corning Fountain and Soldiers' Memorial Arch around it; State Library, Supreme Court building and Memorial Hall (one building) to the south; State Arsenal and Armory to the west; Hartford Public High School next north; Insurance buildings and Recreation grounds next north; Railroad station, - ---- 1.
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on Pleasant Street, were the center of far-reaching activities in which other citizens, without regard to sect, were glad to proffer their aid. Its officers were men of the standing of Isidore Wise, Benjamin L. Haas, Leviat S. Knoek, Joseph Silver, Maurice Her- man, Herman Gross, I. E. Goldberg, I. E. Finklestein, M. H. Epstein, Rebecca C. Affachiner, Abraham Katten, who is today the president, and Solomon Elsner, the superintendent. On the board were many men and women prominent in the professional, business and social life of the city, like Dr. A. J. Wolff, Rabbi A. S. Anspacher, Morris Older, Miss Annie Fisher, Samuel Goldman, George Levine, Samuel Herrup, Rabbi I. S. Hurwitz, Moses Ganz, Jacob Leipziger, Rabbi A. Nowak, Milton Weider, Abraham Katten, Max Suisman, Mrs. M. K. Samuels, Mrs. A. Rosenberg, and Mrs. J. W. Rich. Their special interests had to do with relief, free loans, employment, visitation, shelter, hospital visita- tion, medical aid, legal aid, family rehabilitation and child wel- fare. The influence of the charities is more vigorous today than it ever was; it helps make history of the kind that Thomas Hooker promoted.
Under the influence and inspiration of this center and of social organizations, the Young Men's Hebrew Association was organ- ized in 1917, with quarters on Pleasant Street not far from the Talmud Torah building, and also the Young Women's Hebrew Association. Morris Older was the first president. He was suc- ceeded by Solomon Elsner, and he by Abraham Borden. The two associations united a few years ago, taking the name of the Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association. Today they have excellent quarters in a new building on Ann Street.
In 1902 an earlier generation but including a number of those whose names are here given established the Hebrew Ladies' Old People's Home Association. The value of such an institution caused it to be incorporated and in 1920 to acquire an eminently satisfactory home on Washington Street.
Not least among the influences which were traceable to the Talmud Torah building was the creation of the Hebrew Women's Home for Children. In 1920 a former private sanitarium on Fairfield Avenue was bought and adapted to the requirements for a cheerful home. In fine location, it served the purpose well, but in 1928 it was apparent that there must be something more substantial and an appeal was made for funds. The property
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already had been sold and a new site bought at the corner of Tower and Blue Hills avenues, where eleven broad acres were waiting to furnish the children abundant space. The plans were drawn for an adequate fireproof structure and under the direc- tion of Alfred M. Silberman a "drive" was made which yielded the funds. No one was more gratified than Dr. George H. Cohen, who had encouraged the group of women in their earliest under- taking and who throughout, latterly as treasurer, has been a tower of strength for them. As president he recently has been succeeded by Morris Older, so that he could give more time to special features of the work. The president of the parent organi- zation is Mrs. Hyman B. Cion and the president of the Women's Auxiliary, Mrs. Bertha Bauer. Hyman W. Hess is the superin- tendent. Assisting in the "drive" were members of the Women's Auxiliary, the Junior Auxiliary, the Council of Jewish Women, the Senior Hadassah, the Junior Hadassah, the Rebecca Lodge, the Young Women's Hebrew Association, the Mount Sinai Hos- pital Auxiliary, and the Emmanuel Sisterhood.
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