USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > West Hartford > West Hartford, Connecticut > Part 17
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At an adjourned town meeting held on May 19, 1919, this Committee made a report favoring the appointment of a Town Manager and the following action was taken: "VOTED: That the Town of West Hartford does adopt the provisions of Sections 408-409 and 410 of the General Statutes, providing for the appointment of a Town Manager." At a meeting held on June 26, 1919, the Board of Finance under authority of the
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General Statutes mentioned above, unanimously recommended the appointment of Benjamin I. Miller of Avon, Conn., and on June 30, 1919, the Board of Selectmen appointed Mr. Miller Town Manager, thus making West Hartford the first place in Connecticut to have a Manager. On July 1, 1919, he took over all of the duties of the Selectmen except the making of voters.
BENJAMIN I. MILLER FIRST TOWN MANAGER
After attending the public schools in Avon, Mr. Miller took a two years' business course in the New Britain Seminary. Before being called to West Hartford, he rendered efficient service in his native town of Avon, serving as first Selectman for eight years, Chairman of the Town School Board several years, Judge of Probate for eight years, and Representative in the 1901 Session of the General Assembly. During the World War he served as Chairman of the 5th District Draft Board,
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which had jurisdiction over Avon, Berlin, Bristol, Burlington, Farmington, Plainville, Southington, and West Hartford.
The first annual report as Town Manager was as follows:
"Since July 1, 1919, West Hartford has had the Town Manager plan, and so far it seems to have proved satisfactory to a majority of the people in this Town.
"While West Hartford is the first Town in Connecticut to take advantage of the law providing for a Manager, up to December, 1919, there were one hundred and sixty-two towns and cities in the United States that had managers and the number is growing each year. West Hartford is confronted with several large problems, of which some of the most important are schools and roads.
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING
"As the Schools are under the management of the School Board, I will not take them up at this time.
"The problem of economical construction and maintenance of roads, with the increasing cost of labor and material, is one of great importance to the taxpayers of this town.
"Your Manager would like very much to improve every road that has been petitioned for and many others, but this is impossible to do if we are to have a reasonable rate of tax this year, and I do not approve of a high tax rate this year, with the increase of valuations, therefore, it seems advisable to build
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macadamized streets where none have been before, and put the surface of those streets that have been built for several years in as good condition as possible, without going to the great expense of wholly resurfacing them, and I shall endeavor to use a patrol system to fill holes in streets already built, as far as our limited funds will allow it.
"Where there are curbs and gutters on streets to be improved, they should be macadamized the whole width, but this cannot be done with the appropriation available this year; however, I believe it is a mistake to go to the other extreme and build a very narrow street.
"In the near future provision must be made for resurfacing streets that have been built for several years, especially those that are subject to heavy truck traffic.
"There has been a large amount of snow, of a very unusual density, the past winter, and there was no appropriation for clearing it from the streets; but all the available labor and teams that could be secured were kept at work in an endeavor to keep open for traffic most of the streets.
"There are many other recommendations that I should like to make, but considering the large amount of funds needed for schools and roads, will not ask for more at this time.
Respectfully submitted,
B. I. Miller, Town Manager."
II. THE CHARTER
At a special town meeting held on April 26, 1920, it was voted to have a Charter Commission appointed, and under authority of the General Statutes, Town Manager Miller ap- pointed a Charter Commission consisting of the following electors: Charles C. Cook, Charles A. Griswold, Stewart N. Dunning, Dennis F. Ahern, George H. Barton, C. Frederick Beach, Christopher M. Gallup, Charles E. Lord, and Charles A. Hunter.
This Commission drafted a charter and held several public hearings in different sections of the Town. At a general election held November 2, 1920, a proposed charter was adopted by a vote of fourteen hundred five in favor to two hundred sixty-eight opposed.
CHARTER FOR THE TOWN OF WEST HARTFORD
Section I. All the powers and duties now vested in the Town of West Hartford or the Board of Selectmen thereof and all powers and duties which shall hereafter be vested by law in the several towns of this State or in the Selectmen thereof, except
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as hereinafter specifically reserved, shall, after the first Monday after the first Tuesday of April, 1921, be vested, so far as the Town of West Hartford is concerned, in a Board to be known as the Town Council. Said Board shall consist of fifteen (15) councillors to be elected on the first Tuesday in April, 1921, and annually thereafter to hold office for one year from the first Monday next following their election and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. The present officers of said Town shall continue to hold their respective office until their successors shall have been duly elected or appointed, and duly qualified as hereinafter provided.
Section II. Said Council shall be elected by districts, such districts to be located for the convenience of electors in voting, and each district shall have, as nearly as may be, its proportional share of representation in the Council, based upon the number of voters in each district. For the first election to be held hereunder the commission to prepare a charter and appointed under the provisions of Chapter 24 of the General Statutes shall determine the method of election and formulate rules and regulations for the conduct thereof and divide the town into four temporary election districts: one consisting of Elmwood, so-called, one of Charter Oak, so-called, one of the East-side Section, so-called, and one of the remainder of the town, each such temporary election district to have such percentage of the total number of councillors, as nearly as may be, as the number of electors of said district bears to the whole number of electors in the town. After the first election shall have been held under the terms of this act and at least sixty days before a second election the Council shall by ordinance establish such districts as it may determine and define the boundaries thereof. The members of said Council shall be elected by the ballot system in use from time to time for electors' meetings, by voting machines, or otherwise as the Town shall by ordinance provide. At the annual election in April, 1923, a referendum vote shall be taken on the following question: "Shall the members of the Council be elected from the town at large?" If the majority of votes on such question is "yes", such elections shall thereafter be at large. At least one week prior to the date of each election, the Town Clerk shall deposit in the mail, addressed to each voter, a facsimile of the ballot, giving the names of all candidates substantially, as near
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as may be, in the same manner and form in which the same will appear on the official ballot, and accompanying said facsimile shall appear printed instructions for using such ballot.
Section III. All votes or acts of said Council shall be sub- ject to a referendum as follows: Within ten (10) days after the passage of any vote or act of said Council, ten per centum (10%) of the electors of said Town may petition for a special Town meeting to consider the question whether the action of said Council shall be overruled and upon receipt of such petition a special Town meeting shall be called and if, after discussion, a majority of the electors at such meeting shall so vote, there shall then be referred to a special election the question "Shall the ac- tion of the Council (here insert a description of the vote or act objected to) be overruled," such election to be held one (1) week from the date of said special Town meeting. If a majority of the electors voting at said election shall so vote and such majority shall be not less than thirty per centum (30%) of the electors of said Town, then the vote or action of said Council shall be over- ruled, otherwise, to be and remain in full force and effect. No vote or act so objected to shall be effective until after the date of such special election.
Section IV. Said Council shall annually appoint a Board of Finance, a School Board, Directors of Public Library, a Street, Sewer and Water Commission, an Assessment Commission, a Park, Town Plan and Cemetery Commission, a Bureau of Assess- ment and Award, a Board of Relief and a Police and Fire Com- mission, each to consist of five (5) electors, at least one, but with not more than two members of each of said boards and com- missions also being members of said Council. Said Council, by appropriate ordinance may provide for additional boards or commissions and define the powers and duties thereof.
Section V. Said Town Council shall also appoint a Town Manager and define by ordinance the powers and duties thereof, and shall also provide by ordinance for the appointment of a Town Treasurer, a Tax Collector, a Controller, a Town Engineer, a Building and Plumbing Inspector, Town Auditors and Con- stables and any other necessary Town officials.
Section VI. A board of Selectmen, Town Clerk, Registrars of Voters, Justices of the Peace, and Grand Jurors shall be elected
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on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1922, and annually or biennially thereafter as the electors of the Town may determine. The present incumbents of such offices shall continue to hold office until their successors are elected and qualified, and the Council may fill any vacancies in said offices.
Section VII. At least one public hearing shall be given before any ordinance is passed, and thereafter passage of same shall be advertised in two newspapers having a circulation in said Town and ordinances shall only become operative one week from such publication.
Section VIII. All ordinances shall be filed with the Town Clerk and recorded by him in a book kept for that purpose.
Section IX. The powers and duties of the Board of Select- men shall after the first day of May, 1921, be limited to those powers vested in and those duties imposed upon them by the Constitution and Laws of the State in relation to the admission of persons to the privileges of electors in said Town, and to the erasure from the registry list of the names of those who have forfeited the privileges of electors.
Section X. All existing Special Acts relating to the Town of West Hartford shall continue and remain in full force as now existing, except as herein amended, but the Council may, by appropriate ordinance, amend said Special Acts, or pass ordi- nances in lieu thereof, in conformity with the authority con- ferred upon towns in Chapter 24 of the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut.
A true copy of record.
Attest: HENRY C. WHITMAN, Town Clerk.
This original Charter has been amended since.
The first Town Election, under the Charter was held on April 5, 1921, and the following were elected to the first Town Council:
First District: Chas. W. Hall, Frederick E. Duffy, Albert H. Yost, Charles A. Griswold, W. Wallace Thomson. Second District: Frank J. Cadwell.
Third District: Edward J. Dungan, Oscar W. Hjerpe, John J. Grogan, Charles E. Latham.
Fourth District: Gustaf A. Lindell, James M. Linton, Richard H. Phillips, George H. Barton, Raymond G. Lincoln.
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On April 12, 1921, the first Council was organized, and the meeting was called to order by Town Manager Miller; all mem- bers of the Council, fifteen in number, were present, and the oath of office was administered by Town Clerk, Henry C. Whitman.
At the time the first Council was organized, the other Town officers were the following:
Town Clerk and Treasurer, Henry C. Whitman; Collector of Taxes, Arthur R. Thompson; Town Manager, Benjamin I. Miller; Board of Selectmen, George H. Barton, C. Frederick Beach, Edwin Y. Judd; Assessment Commission, Charles W. Hall, Stewart N. Dunning, Prescott A. Sears*, Louis Denniston, Edwin Y. Judd; Board of Relief, Thomas Linder, William S. Brace, Clarence C. Scarborough, all terms expire 1921; Justices of the Peace, Carlyle C. Thomson, Leonard J. Collins, Alexander J. Keeney, F. Grenville Stadtmueller, Richard H. Deming, Wil- liam F. Hale; Grand Jurors, Edward B. Barker, John F. Blake, James B. Henry; Constables, James Livingston, Daniel W. Bush- ey, Frank J. Dellert, Axel A. O. Olsen, John J. Cosker, James J. Keily, Charles L. Dion; Auditors, Julius P. Wessel, Victor E. Brodeur; Registrars of Voters, George E. Smith, Eugene A. Malaney; Board of Finance, Myron A. Andrews, James P. Krogh, Henry A. Wolcott, Harry Tyler Smith, Huntington P. Meech **; School Committee, Eugene A. Giddings, Albert H. Yost, William F. Hale, W. A. Sanborn, Constance B. Marshall, E. Cornwall Roberts, Alfred Plant, Frederick E. Duffy, Richard J. Dillon, terms expired 1921; Town Plan Commission, Robert K. Smith, Charles A. Griswold, Allen W. Brown, Prescott A Sears*, Wil- liam S. Lines, Jr., Weston W. Walker, Benjamin I. Miller, Ex- Officio, terms expired 1921; Directors of Public Library, Rev. T. M. Hodgdon, Mrs. Edward W. Morley, Henry C. Whitman, William E. Johnson, Mrs. Joel L. English, Arthur R. Thompson, Charles Deckelman, Mrs. Allen W. Brown, Miss Clara E. Sears, terms expired 1921; Cemetery Committee, William H. Hall, Alexander J. Keeney, Charles A. Griswold, terms expired 1921; Police, James Livingston, Daniel W. Bushey, Frank J. Dellert, William J. Fribance.
*Died January 13, 1921.
** Resigned.
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FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS - THE POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS
I. FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Fountain Hose Company. On July 24, 1879, a meeting was held at the Center for the purpose of organizing a hose company. The following persons were present, manifesting their interest in the movement:
John M. Bates*
Edward Keeney
Paul Thomson
Jared A. Griswold
Albert S. Bishop
Alexander F. Emmons
Franklin S. Hatch*
William S. Brace
Merton S. Buckland
Charles S. Griswold
David E. Stoddard
John A. Decker
Seth L. Gilbert
Warren J. Decker
William H. Hall
Joseph E. Brace
Seth P. Griswold
Warren O. Griswold
John S. Gridley Nelson Svenson
These persons voted to organize a company to be known as the West Hartford Hose Company. At a later date, Francis Nichols, John B. Griswold, George LeMay, Frank Whiton, James A. King, John W. Herrick, Fred W. Griswold, Edward S. Robbins, and C. A. Griswold were added to the number. The membership at first was limited to twenty-five. Joseph E. Brace was elected the first foreman and Albert S. Bishop the first secretary.
The time of holding meetings was on the last Saturday in each month at 5 p.m. Any member absent at that time was fined twenty-five cents. Any officer not performing his duty in a satisfactory manner was to be fined fifty cents, and any mem- ber disobeying an officer was to be fined twenty-five cents.
The first hydrant was installed on the green at the center in 1879, and in October of that year the first water in that hydrant was turned on by Chief Eatont of the Hartford Fire Department, he having been elected an honorary member of the Company. James W. Livingston, who was present, still has in his possession the wrench and nozzle of the old leather hose used. The records of many of the meetings show that during the earlier years the
*John M. Bates was the rector of St. James Episcopal Church, and Franklin S. Hatch the pastor of the Congregational Church.
Chief Eaton spent his boyhood in West Hartford and was always deeply interested in everything that pertained to its welfare.
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members of the Company were called out frequently for the pur- pose of oiling the hose and putting it in proper condition for the winter.
On the twenty-first of June, 1881, it was voted to hold a lawn festival for the purpose of raising funds for the benefit of the Company; and on December 1, 1882, it was voted to give a ball for the same purpose. On January 22, 1883, the Company voted to procure uniforms, the cost not to exceed $3.00 for each person, but at a later date the price was changed to $4.00.
On January 19, 1885, the name of the Company was changed to the Fountain Hose Company, and the following officers were elected: Chief, John E. Millard; foreman, Merton S. Buckland; secretary, Albert S. Bishop; assistant foremen, Joseph E. Brace; treasurer, Jared A. Griswold.
The first provision for giving alarm in case of fire was made October 30, 1885, when M. H. Benedict was appointed to ring the church bell in case of fire. The bell had previously been rung by anyone who had discovered a fire and who had quick access to the belfrey. On June 23, 1903, Henry C. Whitman was ap- pointed to arrange a fire alarm code, using the Congregational Church bell for giving the alarm.
The Company, during the earlier years, in addition to actual practice in handling the equipment, performed good public ser- vice by laying the dust on all streets that could be reached by them, the number of hydrants being limited. The old leather hose, after outlasting its usefulness, was finally burned, and the copper rivets and couplings were sold. A new hose and a second two-wheel hose cart were secured, and additional water pails for service outside the hydrant district. In February, 1915, an old Hartford truck was purchased from Theron Darling and fitted with tanks and all necessary equipment. The old Pope- Hartford truck was disposed of in 1921 and the Stevens-Duryea now in use was purchased.
The present building of the Fountain Hose Company was built in the autumn of 1916. When the building was first con- structed, it was necessary to place a mortgage on it in order to provide sufficient funds, but in 1922 this mortgage was removed.
Mr. James Livingston has been actively identified with this Company during all its history. At the time of the turning on of the first water in the center hydrant in 1879, Mr. Livingston was a call member of the Hartford Fire Department. Later he became a member of the West Hartford Company, and has been at all times deeply interested in promoting its interest.
This Company has rendered efficient service at the many fires which have occurred in the town during its history. One of the largest and most formidable of these was in August, 1907, when four dwellings on Raymond Road were completely destroy- ed and others very badly injured. The Company has rendered
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service at different times in the adjoining towns of Newington, Bloomfield, and Farmington.
At the present time the Company has an active member- ship of thirty persons, with the following officers: Captain, Herman J. Miller; first lieutenant, Clarence R. Root; second lieutenant, George Mills; secretary-treasurer, Ernest A. Brigham.
The trustees are James W. Livingston, Earl Livingston, Clarence R. Root.
The East Side Fire District. The first movement for a fire district in West Hartford was in connection with a petition from residents in the eastern part of the town to the selectmen of the town in 1909. In response to that petition a call was issued for a meeting to be held in the Whiting Lane schoolhouse on the evening of November 22. First Selectman Niles G. White called the meeting to order. Joel L. English was elected chairman and George H. Barton, clerk.
Charles C. Cook, who had circulated the petition,explained the object and purpose of such an organization and offered a motion for the incorporation of the district. This was passed unanimously.
The boundaries outlined for the district were as follows: on the south, the north line of Park Road from Whiting Lane to Prospect Avenue; on the east, the west line of Prospect Avenue from Park Road to Albany Avenue; on the north, the south line of Albany Avenue to Steele Road; and on the west, the east line of Steele Road to Fern Street and thence south to Whiting Lane and south on the east line of Whiting Lane to the point of begin- ning on Park Road. The organization of the district consisted of the election of Joel L. English, Robert H. Schultz, and W. A. Sanborn as District Committee, and George H. Barton as Clerk and Treasurer.
The district proceeded at once to the raising of funds by taxation to provide for the installation of hydrants and the pur- chase of hose. In 1912 the lot on South Prospect Avenue, on which the fire house now stands, was purchased and the building was erected in 1915. A Triple American La France engine was purchased and a force of five firemen appointed to serve the dis- trict. The commissioned service began August 15, 1915.
In December 1926, the fire house was enlarged to double its original capacity and an American La France ladder truck was added to the equipment. The force employed at the present time consists of ten men.
The department has won the reputation of a well organized and well equipped body, and has rendered notably prompt and efficient service on many occasions.
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EAST SIDE FIRE HOUSE
The present District Committee consists of Charles C. Cook (chairman), Frank G. Smith, W. A. Sanborn. The clerk is Prentice F. Waite and the treasurer, Harris L. Burr. George H. Barton is superintendent. Messrs. Cook, Sanborn, and Barton have been officially identified with the department from its beginning and have manifested a fine spirit of devotion to its interests and efficiency.
It was because of the efforts of the commissioners and superintendent of this fire district that the General Assembly of Connecticut passed an act giving power to fire districts to collect ashes and garbage and assess the cost of the same on the property of the residents.
The Center Fire District. The Center Fire District was or- ganized at a meeting held May 4, 1914. The following named officers were elected: Commissioners, Carlyle C. Thomson, George A. Kellogg, Prescott A. Sears; Clerk and Treasurer, Alexander J. Keeney; Tax Collector, Arthur R. Thompson.
The headquarters for several years were in the building of the Fountain Hose Company in the rear of the Baptist Church, but in 1925 the present building on Brace Road was erected.
The officers at that time, under whose direction the building was erected, were as follows: district committee, F. C. Neilson,
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
Harold J. Beardsley, Allen T. Pratt; clerk and treasurer, Edward B. Barker; tax collector, Arthur R. Thompson. The contractors by whom the building was erected were the firm of McIntyre and Ahern of Hartford.
The district is equipped with an American La France pum- per, a Maxim ladder truck, and a Captain's automobile. The force of employees consists of Captain Thomas H. Donnelly, two lieutenants, and ten privates.
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CENTER DISTRICT FIRE HOUSE
The present officers of the district are F. W. Horton chair- man, Karl D. Johnson clerk, Alden Bunyan treasurer, L. A. Partridge and Milo S. Hunt commissioners, Arthur R. Thompson tax collector.
The district has been taxed annually for funds to provide for the maintenance of its plant and force, and for the collection regularly of ashes, garbage, etc. The men in charge of the fire house and apparatus have rendered efficient service, responding promptly to many calls when fires have occurred.
The Quaker Hose Company. The Quaker Hose Company was organized in 1915 with the following officers: president, J. Bush; vice-president, W. Cook; treasurer, O. Nordstrom.
The first apparatus was a rebuilt delivery wagon, hand drawn, equipped with 500 feet of second-hand hose and 25
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buckets. At that time the Town had few fire hydrants. In view of this, the community, under the direction of Quaker Hose, took up subscriptions and installed a number at advan- tageous points.
In keeping with the progress of time the original apparatus was soon antiquated and was replaced by a Mitchell touring car rebuilt into a suitable hose and apparatus truck. Necessary equipment was added so rapidly that the Mitchell truck was soon too light to do the work and in 1919 the Pierce-Arrow truck was purchased through subscription, entertainments, and other means of raising funds.
The Company has a membership of 22 men. The present officers are Captain, J. E. Curran; first lieutenant, L. Noyes; second lieutenant, L. Graywacx; treasurer, R. Schuddekopf; financial secretary, C. Noyes; recording secretary, C. Reed.
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