USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > West Hartford > West Hartford, Connecticut > Part 16
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
WEST HARTFORD TRUST CO., 1926
The bank building is attractive in general appearance and convenient in its adaptation to the needs of its patrons. It is located on the northeast corner of Farmington Avenue and West Hartford Main Street, practically on the site of the second West Hartford post office in 1832.
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
PARKS AND RESERVOIRS
I. GOODMAN PARK
In 1747 Timothy Goodman, who a few years before had deeded some of his land to the Ecclesiastical Society for the lo- cation of a new church building, still further gave evidence of his generosity and patriotism by giving to the Society a parcel of land south of and connected with the church property, to be used as a "parade ground" or park. The deed by which he conveyed this land to the Society is as follows:
"To all People to whom these presents shall come Greeting Know Ye that I Timothy Goodman of Hartford in the County of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut in New England for and in Consideration of a small piece of Land made over to me per the West Society in Hartford per their Committee for that pur- pose Have given Granted Bargained Conveyed, and by these presents do fully Grant Bargain Convey and Confirm to the West Society in Hartford one certain piece of Land lying in Hartford West Society near their Meeting House Butted and Bounded as followeth North on Land of said Society West on my own Land extending from said Societies Land South to Gideon But- lers East Corner of his lot on the West Side of the Road leading through the said society Butting East on said Road also it being the Land I have lately thrown out of the East End of my Lot by Erecting a new Fence there To Have and to Hold said piece of Land with the Privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging to said Societys Own proper Use for a place of Parrade forever.
Furthermore I the said Goodman for myself my Heirs and by these presence do Covenant and Engage to Warrant and defend, the same against all the lawfull Claims and demands of any other Person or Persons whatsoever. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this 24th day of November in the Twenty first Year of his Majestys Reign Anno Dom 1747
Timothy Goodman (Seal)
Signed Sealed and delivered in presence of Us John Whitman, Adonijah Bidwell
Hartford County April 21st A.D. 1748 personally appeared Timothy Goodman the Grantor, Signer, and Sealer of the above
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Instrument and acknowledged the same to be his free Act and Deed
Before Joseph Talcott, Justice Peace
Received December 5th 1791 and here Recorded
George Wyllys, Registrar
The park was used for many years as a parade ground for the local militia in accordance with the design of the donor and the custom of the times, and in the course of the years many citizens acquired fame as leaders of the local militia in the official positions of colonel, major, or captain. The training days ceased after a while and the local militia paraded the park no more, but some of the prominent leaders retained the titles which they had acquired as long as they lived, and were generally spoken of as Col. Butler, Col. Whiting, Col. Flagg, Major Seymour, Major Bevans, Captain Faxon, Captain Mills, Captain Selden, Captain Goodman, etc. In later years the park was used for Fourth of July celebrations, picnics, and other festive and social purposes, and was a favorite place of resort for merry groups of children on summer afternoons at the close of the afternoon session of the near-by district school.
For several years prior to 1877, it was under the control of the Town on a long term lease, and some improvements were made, including the building of a two-rail white fence around it with entrances without gates on each of the four sides.
In 1877 the Society received notice that James S. Seymour of Auburn, N. Y., a native of West Hartford, had recently died and by his will had bequeathed to the West Hartford Ecclesiastical Society the sum of $2000 to be expended in the improvement of the park and the old cemeteries. Thereupon the Society secured from the town the release of the control of the park, and made the needed improvements. At the present time the park is again in the control of the town under a long-term lease, and marked im- provements have again been made, including curbing on all sides, the regarding of the grounds, etc. In connection with the widening of the streets on both sides, the area of the park has been considerably reduced, but it is still an attractive and useful feature of the center of the town.
The Whitman Charter Oak. Mr. Samuel Whitman, who had planted acorns from a descendant of the Charter Oak which he had given to Bushnell Park in Hartford, presented one of the young trees which he had raised to the Ecclesiastical Society, to be planted on Goodman Park in 1895. Henry O. Griswold, Chairman of the Society's Committee planted the tree on May 3, 1895. This grandson of the original "Charter Oak" has now grown to a height of fifty feet and is a fine, shapely tree, repre- senting historically the original Charter Oak, as well as the public spirit and patriotism of Mr. Whitman.
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The Constitutional Oak .- the large tree in the left foreground below. In 1902 General Joseph R. Hawley, United States Senator from Connecticut, presented to every town in the State a small oak tree to be planted in some public place in commemoration of the Constitutional Convention held in the State Capitol in Hartford in 1901. The tree presented to the town of West Hartford was planted on Goodman Park on
CHARTER OAK SCION, GROWN AND PRESENTED BY SAMUEL WHITMAN
Memorial Day, May 30, 1902, at the conclusion of the Memorial Day Exercises at the North Cemetery. The tree, which had been sent to William H. Hall, the delegate from West Hartford in the Constitutional Convention, was by him presented to Adolph C. Sternberg, Tree Warden, who accepted it in behalf of the Town of West Hartford. It had been arranged to have the planting done by a few young people representing some of the older prominent families of the town. Henry C. Whitman, Town Clerk, was invited to remove the first shovelful of earth for the excavation. The planting was done by; Edward B. Flagg
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
representing the Flagg, Root, Selden, and Goodman families; Morris Andrews representing the Andrews, Morris, Butler and Percival families; Helen S. Scarborough representing the Scar- borough, Brace, and Colton families; and Ethel Cadwell repre- senting the Cadwell and Gilbert families. After the planting, "America" was sung. The tree is now over fifty-seven feet high and nearly five feet in circumference at the base of its trunk. Itis located on the east side of Goodman Park in a southeasterly direction from the Charter Oak.
The Community Christmas Tree. Near the Constitutional Oak on Goodman Park, is a Douglas Fir evergreen tree which
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE
was presented to the Town on May 13, 1929 by the Sarah Whitman Hooker Chapter D.A.R., to be used annually as a Community Christmas Tree. The presentation was made in
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
connection with public exercises on the park by Mrs. John Allen Roberts, Regent of the Chapter, and the tree was accepted in behalf of the Park Commission of the town by Harold Carey. The tree was presented to the D.A.R. by Dewing Brothers from their farm on Mountain Road.
The Community Flag Pole. In 1916 the members of the Ec- clesiastical Society gave some consideration to the matter of placing a flag pole on Goodman Park for the benefit of the com- munity in the display of our national flag on patriotic occasions. Although the matter was favorably regarded, no action was taken with respect to the erection of such a pole. Later, the West Hartford Business Men's Association became interested in the subject. Mr. Harold E. Hitchcock called the attention of the
FLAG-RAISING ON GOODMAN PARK
Association to the subject at one of the meetings and the Asso- ciation, appreciating his interest responded by appointing a committee to take the matter under consideration. Mr. Hitch- cock was chosen chairman. The other members were Leonard J. Collins and Hyman F. Smith.
Mr. Hitchcock communicated with the Ecclesiastical So- ciety with regard to the matter of erecting the pole on Goodman Park and on March 28, 1917, received a communication from the
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Society expressing approval, giving consent to the erection of the pole, and specifying some steps to be taken with respect to the removal of trees, the setting of the pole, etc. A vigorous campaign was conducted under Mr. Hitchcock's leadership for securing funds for the purchase and erection of the pole, and as a result $500 was secured and the fine pole which now adorns the park was secured and erected.
The order of exercises in commemoration of this event and the presentation of the pole on Memorial Day May 30, 1917, at 10:30 A.M. were as follows: Raising of the Flag by Harold E. Hitchcock, chairman of the flag committee; singing of the Star Spangled Banner; salute to the Flag; recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag; presentation of Flag in behalf of Business Mens' Association, Walter B. Spencer; acceptance in behalf of Ecclesiastical Society, Eugene A. Giddings, Chairman of So- ciety Committee; address by Robert Butler of Hartford; singing of America. Music was furnished by Colt's Band of Hartford.
II. THE OLD COMMON
It is a matter of historical interest that a considerable por- tion of the land which in 1674 was set apart "to be a common forever for the use of all the people," and which, after about eighty years of such use, was divided into sections and used for house lots and farms, has, in the later years, been devoted again to public use as parks, although probably not in the way which was in the minds of those who first set it apart as a common.
The portion of the original common which became a part of the West Division Parish when it was set apart by the General Assembly in 1711 had its eastern boundary on the west side of Prospect Hill Road, now Prospect Avenue, and in that section of land we now have the grounds of the Hartford Golf Club, a portion of Elizabeth Park, and Charter Oak Park.
Elizabeth Park. Eighty and more years ago Charles F. Pond, a wealthy and prominent citizen of Hartford, was the owner of a country farm located on the Prospect Hill road at the western terminus of a road which is now known as Asylum Avenue.
The old farmhouse was located on high ground on the west side of the road, quite a distance back, and the barns were back of the house. The western part of the farm was a somewhat swampy pasture lot where there were small pond holes fed by springs, and trees, bushes, skunk cabbage, and other wild growth. Here the boys on their way home from the old school on the top of Prospect Hill used to roam, hunting for wild flowers, bull- frogs, and birds' eggs.
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
A small brook ran from this pasture lot in a southeasterly direction across the road now known as Fern Street and on across the Prospect Hill road and the pasture lot on the Cone farm to Farmington Turnpike, where it passed under a wooden bridge at the foot of the hill about where Tremont Street is now.
This property at a later date came into the possession of Charles M. Pond, one of the sons of Charles F. Pond, who laid out the grounds on the west side of the Prospect Hill road and built a fine residence there, removing the old farmhouse and farm barns and building stables for the housing of the fine high- bred horses which he raised and owned.
At the time of his death this farm of ninety acres, together with a large sum of money, passed into the possession of the city of Hartford by the terms of his will, to be developed and main- tained as a public park to be called Elizabeth Park in honor of his wife, whose death preceded his; and so in place of the ordi- nary country farm which was a part of the original common, we have one of Hartford's most beautiful parks, which has been visited and admired by thousands of visitors from all parts of the nation, and which is a favorite resort for the people of Hart- ford and vicinity and from other communities of the State.
Charter Oak Park. In the month of May, 1873, Burdett Loomis had acquired possession of a tract of land in the south- eastern section of the town, which had formerly been a part of the Common. It was bounded on the east by Oakwood Avenue, on the north by Flatbush Avenue, on the west by East Street now South Quaker Lane, and on the south by land of Henry Tal- cott. It contained about 135 acres. Mr. Loomis had evidently acquired title to this land in behalf of the Connecticut Stock Breeders' Association. A mile track was laid out and buildings erected, horse races and fairs being held there for many years.
In 1896 Henry C. Kennedy of Hartford acquired title to the property in behalf of parties interested in the training of horses and it was known as the Charter Oak Training Park. The next year, 1897, Mr. Kennedy deeded the property to Andrew J. Welch and O. A. Jones, and it became widely known as a "trotting park," attracting large crowds of people each year to the races, in which many famous horses from all parts of the country were participants. During the latter part of this period of its history Andy Welch was the sole owner of the property. Part of the premises was leased in 1906 to the Chatford Company, and an amusement park known as Luna Park was operated for a few years.
In May, 1909, the Connecticut Fair Association came into possession of the property. This organization merged in 1923
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
with the Connecticut Agricultural Society and the Society is now the recognized owner of the property.
At the time when the park was at the height of its popularity a hotel was erected on Oakwood Avenue just outside the en- trance of which was a favorite resort for horsemen and patrons of the park. It was finally destroyed by fire.
The Hartford Golf Club. The Hartford Golf Club was or- ganized in 1896. In 1899 it purchased a tract of land consisting of ninety-nine acres located north of Asylum Avenue in West Hartford and between Steele Road and Prospect Avenue. It was a part of a large farm which had been owned for many years by the Huntington family. Since that date the club has acquired possession of over one hundred fifty-four additional acres on the north side of Albany Avenue and adjacent on the north to their original purchase. This entire tract of over two hundred fifty acres was originally a part of the Common which was set apart in 1674 for the use of all the people, but of course without any thought or imagination on the part of those early settlers of such a use of it by the people as is now made of it.
Burgoyne Park. In 1777 when the news of the surrender of the British General Burgoyne to General Gates reached West Hartford, Captain Ebenezer Faxon and others residing in the southern part of the parish planted a group of elm trees in an open space at the junction of the south road to Farmington and the road now known as South Quaker Lane, in commemoration of that event. These trees grew to a large size and remained for many years. The triangular space on which they stood is now enclosed by a granite curbing and is called Burgoyne Park.
While these sections of land devoted to public uses and con- tributing greatly to the attractiveness of the community are in West Hartford, the town has no ownership in them or control of them, and is not entitled to any credit for their existence or benefits.
The only park in which the town has any controlling interest is the small one at the center known as Goodman Park and that is the property of the First Church of Christ, but leased to the Town.
The many natural beauties of the original West Division have not been conserved in a satisfactory way as the town has developed. There have been some public spirited citizens from time to time who have advocated the development of parks in different parts of the town, but no movement in that direction has been carried through to a successful issue.
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
A number of years ago Mr. George W. Staples and a few other citizens advocated the laying out of a public boulevard or parkway along the line of Trout Brook from Mountain Road to Elmwood. Some of the owners of land along that line were will- ing to give it to the town for such a purpose, but public sentiment in favor of such a project was not strong enough to carry it through.
The attention of the Town Plan Park and Cemetery Com- mission has been called by some of our citizens to the need of public parks and to the development of land now in possession of the town for such purposes, but no definite action has been taken.
The present Park Commission have manifested much inter- est in the matter of public parks, giving the subject a great deal of attention and developing broad and highly commendable plans, but property owners some of whose land is desired for such purposes have put such high valuation on the property desired as to make purchase inadvisable, and as to give additional evi- dence of a lack of public spirit in the matter.
III. HARTFORD RESERVOIRS IN WEST HARTFORD
As early as 1857 the Water Board of Hartford found that there was a much higher consumption of water than conditions warranted. In 1858 it began investigations relative to an in- creased supply. Their report, submitted to the Common Coun- cil in April, 1860, recommended a supply of water by gravity from the hills to the west of the city, and urged the Common Council to take immediate action on the matter. The question was finally brought to a definite conclusion in the fall of 1864, when it was referred by the court of the Common Council to a city vote. The decision was in favor of a supply by gravity from Trout Brook in West Hartford. In March, 1856, the Board petitioned the General Assembly for an amendment to the city charter which would enable them to take water from Trout Brook in the town of West Hartford. This petition was finally granted. The Water Board proceeded to acquire possession of pasture land and wood land on the north side of Farmington Avenue east of the eastern slope of Talcott Mountain, and along the line of a small stream of water which had been known for many years as Mine Brook and later as Trout Brook. Some of the people of West Hartford, especially those who were owners of mill privileges or water rights on the line of Trout Brook, presented a remonstrance against the proposed reservoir, but these proved of no avail. It is recorded that William H. Sey- mour and four hundred other citizens of West Hartford presented a petition favoring the project.
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In 1866 the Water Board began the construction of the first reservoir, now known as Number One, under the direction of Seth Marsh, City Engineer of Hartford. Mr. Marsh died before it was completed, and he was succeeded by Engineer Samuel M. Gray. This first reservoir covered thirty-two acres of land, and was two hundred sixty feet above the Connecticut River at Hartford. It had a capacity of one hundred forty-five million gallons. The pipe line for conducting the water to Hartford was laid along Farmington Avenue through West Hartford Center. The pipes used at first were made of sheet iron and coated with cement.
VIEW FROM EAST SIDE OF RESERVOIR NO. 3
Water was first introduced into the city of Hartford from this reservoir in January, 1867. Some of the West Hartford people living along the pipe line felt that they should be supplied with water free of charge in view of the fact that it had been taken from West Hartford territory, and an effort was made by resort to legal proceedings to accomplish this, with the result that it was decided that West Hartford people should have the right to take the water for their uses on payment of the same rates as were to be paid by residents of Hartford. There was a feeling of disappointment on the part of many West Hartford people at this decision for they were of the opinion that Hartford has taken from West Hartford without compensation a valuable
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
water privilege, and should therefore give to West Hartford people the right to use the water free of charge, evidently over- looking the fact that in providing for their own needs Hartford had practically given to West Hartford the beginning of a valu- able water system.
One morning in September, 1867, after a heavy rain storm which had continued for several days, a portion of the dam of the new reservoir broke away and a wall of water rolled down through the fields, practically destroying the grist and saw mill of Stanley & Thompson, a short distance below the reservoir. It rushed on to Mountain Road, carrying away the bridge on that road, passed along the line of Trout Brook through the woods to Fern Street, and destroyed a bridge there, then on to North Main Street, destroying the dam of the grist mill pond, and removing the bridge on North Main Street. Rushing on to Farm- ington Avenue, it undermined the central pier of a new bridge which was in process of construction. Much damage was done to the fields of the farmers by the deposits of stone and gravel and the destruction of fences. The City of Hartford paid to the Town of West Hartford the sum of $11,370 for damages to bridges and roads, and to mill owners and land owners for damages to their property the sum of $17,000.
Since the construction of the first reservoir, additional ones have been built as follows: in 1868, 1875, 1880, 1884, and 1896. The one built in 1880 is located in the town of Farmington and has been known as Reservoir Number Four. It has now been abandoned as a source of water supply and converted, with a large area of land around it, into a suburban park. The reservoir built in 1896 known as Number Six is located in the town of Bloomfield. The fine roadways which have been constructed through the woods around the reservoirs and through from Farmington Avenue to Albany Avenue, and to and round Reser- voir Number Six afford fine opportunities for pleasure riding greatly enjoyed by people far and near; and they, in connection with the bodies of water, constitute an extensive and beautiful park embracing in the town of West Hartford 1625 acres of land.
Mr. William E. Johnson of West Hartford first became connected with the Water Board as an engineer in 1890, and dur- ing the greater part of the time since has been Division Super- intendent, having general charge of all reservoir property in West Hartford, with his office at the entrance to Reservoir Number One on Farmington Avenue.
While Hartford now depends for its water supply upon other sources to a very large extent, it is hoped that the property in West Hartford will be retained and maintained as a park for many years.
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CHANGES IN TOWN GOVERNMENT
I. TOWN MANAGER
The Board of Finance in its annual report for the fiscal year ending February 28th, 1919, included the following state- ments and recommendations:
"It appears to your Finance Board that the size and impor- tance of the Town has reached a development approximating at least an out-growth of the old system of Town Management provided by general Statutes for small towns. This need was recognized by the General Assembly in 1917, by the passage of an act concerning the appointment of town manager. If West Hartford is to grow, as we have every reason to anticipate, the time has arrived at a point where some plan looking to a more efficient system of accounting, bookkeeping, purchasing supplies, and general business management should be thought out and put into execution.
"We would recommend the appointment of a committee to investigate and report some plan for the creation of a town office to be filled by one having a thorough knowledge of account- ing and such executive ability to conduct the general offices of the Town, and one under whose control should be placed the entire bookkeeping, and in whom might be coordinated the various departments of the Town's activities, so as to effect a more business-like, economical, and efficient management than could be hoped for under the present system. Such com- mittee might well be asked to complete its duties and report early enough to enable the Town to adopt its recommendations and take measures to carry the same into effect for the fiscal year beginning March 1st, 1920."
At an adjourned town meeting held March 24th, 1919, this recommendation of the Board of Finance was acted upon and it was voted to have a special committee of seven electors appointed by the Chairman. The Chairman, Mr. A. C. Stern- berg, appointed the following committee: Charles C. Cook, George H. Barton, C. Frederick Beach, Charles A. Griswold, Dennis F. Ahern, Stewart N. Dunning, and Christopher M. Gallup.
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