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History of West Haven, Connecticut, USA
Journey back in time to West Haven, Connecticut, USA
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West Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Incorporated as a town in 1922 and a city in 1961, West Haven is Connecticut's youngest city despite being one of the state's oldest settlements.
Constructed in the late 19th century, West Haven's Savin Rock Park was known as "Connecticut's Coney Island" before closing in 1966.
courant.com
West Haven Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
Postcard
The Green Showing old and new Christ Church, West Haven, Conn.
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
Postcard
Savin Rock Theatre, Savin Rock, Conn.
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
Postcard
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"Savin Rock was an American amusement park in West Haven, Connecticut. It was previously called The White City. The park included a number of roller coasters, other rides and numerous funhouses.
The amusement park was established in the 1870s after entrepreneur George Kelsey extended the trolley lines and built a 1,500-foot pier at the end of Beach Street to accommodate a ferry service. Kelsey built the nearby Seaview Hotel, with rooms for up to 150 guests.
...In 1903 carnival rides were added and the area was officially opened as an amusement park called the White City...
By 1919, the park, now called Savin Rock Amusement Park, was attracting 1.2 million visitors each year...
Inside the White City was a movie theater, The Orpheum Theater, which was open all year round was owned by Doc Dewaltop from 1913 until it was destroyed by a fire in 1921...
The park was finally closed in 1966."
wikipedia){kind=small}
New Haven, Conn., White City, Savin Rock
"Savin Rock was an American amusement park in West Haven, Connecticut. It was previously called The White City. The park included a number of roller coasters, other rides and numerous funhouses.
The amusement park was established in the 1870s after entrepreneur George Kelsey extended the trolley lines and built a 1,500-foot pier at the end of Beach Street to accommodate a ferry service. Kelsey built the nearby Seaview Hotel, with rooms for up to 150 guests.
...In 1903 carnival rides were added and the area was officially opened as an amusement park called the White City...
By 1919, the park, now called Savin Rock Amusement Park, was attracting 1.2 million visitors each year...
Inside the White City was a movie theater, The Orpheum Theater, which was open all year round was owned by Doc Dewaltop from 1913 until it was destroyed by a fire in 1921...
The park was finally closed in 1966."
wikipedia
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
Postcard
Savin Rock, Moonlight Scene, West Haven, Conn.
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
Postcard
Airdome Theatre, White City, Savin Rock, Conn.
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
Postcard
Osborn Ave., Woody Crest, West Haven, Conn.
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
Postcard
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The "Colonnade" Savin Rock, Conn.
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
Postcard
The White City, 1903
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
Postcard
Savin Rock Bathing Scene
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Jack's Hotel, Savin Rock
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Chute the Chutes
White City
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
Postcard
West Haven Buckle Co.
museumofcthistory.org
Founded in Cromwell in 1843, moved to West Haven in 1850, the West Haven Buckle Company went out of business in 1993. During the Civil War, the company made buckles for Union Army troops.
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
Postcard
Christ Episcopal Church
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Town Hall
West Haven, Connecticut, USA
Postcard
Congregational Church and World War I Memorial, West Haven, Conn.
museumofcthistory.org
Discover West Haven: History, News, Travel, and Stories
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1854 - West Haven
West Haven, a post-village of New Haven county, Connecticut, on the New York and New Haven railroad, 5 miles S. W. from New Haven. It contains a church and an academy.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.
West Haven, a post-village of New Haven county, Connecticut, on the New York and New Haven railroad, 5 miles S. W. from New Haven. It contains a church and an academy.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.
1869 - Mr and Mrs Tom Thumb
Commodore Nutt and Minne Warren were married on Thursday, at the residence of Tom Thumb's mother, (Mrs. Stratton,) at West Haven, Conn. Tom Thumb and his pretty little wife, once Miss Lavina Warren, the sister of the bride, acted as groomsman and bridesmaid.
genealogybank.com
Critic-Record
Washington, D.C.
June 22, 1869
Read more about Charles Sherwood STRATTON
Commodore Nutt and Minne Warren were married on Thursday, at the residence of Tom Thumb's mother, (Mrs. Stratton,) at West Haven, Conn. Tom Thumb and his pretty little wife, once Miss Lavina Warren, the sister of the bride, acted as groomsman and bridesmaid.
genealogybank.com
Critic-Record
Washington, D.C.
June 22, 1869
Read more about Charles Sherwood STRATTON
1888 - Confessed to Heavy Forgeries
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Oct. 11. - Henry G. Hotchkiss, of West Haven, a hardware manufacturer, has been arrested charged with forging checks upon the Yale National Bank of New Haven to the amount of $20,000. He confessed his guilt, and was locked up. The forgeries extended over three years. The Yale Bank lost about $60,000 a year ago by the E. S. Wheeler & Co. swindle, and curtailed its dividend. The present loss has created considerable comment in.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
October 13, 1888
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Oct. 11. - Henry G. Hotchkiss, of West Haven, a hardware manufacturer, has been arrested charged with forging checks upon the Yale National Bank of New Haven to the amount of $20,000. He confessed his guilt, and was locked up. The forgeries extended over three years. The Yale Bank lost about $60,000 a year ago by the E. S. Wheeler & Co. swindle, and curtailed its dividend. The present loss has created considerable comment in.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
October 13, 1888
1889 - Fire
A church and five business buildings were destroyed by fire at West Haven, Conn., on the 27th.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
March 30, 1889
A church and five business buildings were destroyed by fire at West Haven, Conn., on the 27th.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
March 30, 1889
1893 - INCENDIARY FIRES IN WEST HAVEN. The Fire Department of the Town Was Kept Busy for Several Hours.
NEW-HAVEN, Conn., Dec. 29. - Two incendiary fires in West Haven to-night kept the Fire Department busy for several hours. The first consumed a barn owned by the late George Kelsey. By extinguishing a lively blaze the firemen prevented imminent destruction to adjacent buildings.
Before the burning barn was abandoned a general alarm called the department to the newly-erected Town Hall, which has just been completed at a cost of about $25,000, and which was ready for occupancy with the new year. The flames started in a closet on the ground floor and spread rapidly. The two lower floors were ruined, though the walls of the structure are thought to be still available. The furnished rooms of the Selectmen and borough officers were gutted, and the building will have to be refurnished throughout.
To-night the Burgesses offered a liberal reward for the detection of the guilty parties. More than half a dozen fires of the incendiary origin have created havoc in the town within six months,... Read MORE...
NEW-HAVEN, Conn., Dec. 29. - Two incendiary fires in West Haven to-night kept the Fire Department busy for several hours. The first consumed a barn owned by the late George Kelsey. By extinguishing a lively blaze the firemen prevented imminent destruction to adjacent buildings.
Before the burning barn was abandoned a general alarm called the department to the newly-erected Town Hall, which has just been completed at a cost of about $25,000, and which was ready for occupancy with the new year. The flames started in a closet on the ground floor and spread rapidly. The two lower floors were ruined, though the walls of the structure are thought to be still available. The furnished rooms of the Selectmen and borough officers were gutted, and the building will have to be refurnished throughout.
To-night the Burgesses offered a liberal reward for the detection of the guilty parties. More than half a dozen fires of the incendiary origin have created havoc in the town within six months,... Read MORE...
1895 - West Haven
West Ha'ven, a post-borough in Orange township, New Haven co., Conn., on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, 23 miles S.W. of New Haven, and 1 mile from Long Island Sound. It has 3 churches, the Oak Hill Seminary, a newspaper office, and manufactures of buckles, keys, and matches. Pop, about 2500.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
West Ha'ven, a post-borough in Orange township, New Haven co., Conn., on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, 23 miles S.W. of New Haven, and 1 mile from Long Island Sound. It has 3 churches, the Oak Hill Seminary, a newspaper office, and manufactures of buckles, keys, and matches. Pop, about 2500.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
1900 - THE DEADLY BICYCLE. Young Aaronson Nearly Killed by a Train in North Haven.
William Aronson, 18 years old, of West Haven, narrowly escaped being killed at a railroad crossing in North Haven late on Saturday afternoon. He was trying to cross the track at the depot in front of the passenger train bound from Springfield to this city. His bicycle had nearly cleared the track, but the rear wheel was struck by the locomotive and the rider was hurled to the ground with great force. The wheel was wrecked. The train was stopped and the injured man was taken aboard, he having informed the conductor that he lived in West Haven. He was taken to West Haven on the train and carried to the home of his parents. Dr. Bartlett was called and remained with him nearly all Saturday night. Yesterday morning the physician decided that it would be better for Aaronson to go to the New Haven Hospital, and he was taken there.
His spine is injured and the pevic bones badly strained. He may recover.
The New Haven Evening Register
New Haven, Connecticut
July 16, 1900
William Aronson, 18 years old, of West Haven, narrowly escaped being killed at a railroad crossing in North Haven late on Saturday afternoon. He was trying to cross the track at the depot in front of the passenger train bound from Springfield to this city. His bicycle had nearly cleared the track, but the rear wheel was struck by the locomotive and the rider was hurled to the ground with great force. The wheel was wrecked. The train was stopped and the injured man was taken aboard, he having informed the conductor that he lived in West Haven. He was taken to West Haven on the train and carried to the home of his parents. Dr. Bartlett was called and remained with him nearly all Saturday night. Yesterday morning the physician decided that it would be better for Aaronson to go to the New Haven Hospital, and he was taken there.
His spine is injured and the pevic bones badly strained. He may recover.
The New Haven Evening Register
New Haven, Connecticut
July 16, 1900
1906
Orange, a post-township (town) of New Haven co., Conn., borders on Long Island Sound and is bounded on the W. by the Housatonic River. Orange village is about 6 miles WSW. of New Haven, on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R. The town contains the borough of West Haven. Total pop. in 1900, 6995.
West Haven, a borough of New Haven co., Conn on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R., adjacent to New Haven, from which it is separated by the West River. It has manufactures of buckles, pianos, safes, etc. Savin Rock, a popular resort, is in this borough. Pop. in 1900, 5427. The post-station is New Haven.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906
Orange, a post-township (town) of New Haven co., Conn., borders on Long Island Sound and is bounded on the W. by the Housatonic River. Orange village is about 6 miles WSW. of New Haven, on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R. The town contains the borough of West Haven. Total pop. in 1900, 6995.
West Haven, a borough of New Haven co., Conn on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R., adjacent to New Haven, from which it is separated by the West River. It has manufactures of buckles, pianos, safes, etc. Savin Rock, a popular resort, is in this borough. Pop. in 1900, 5427. The post-station is New Haven.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906
1931 - June 19 - 1st photoelectric cell installed commercially West Haven Ct
historyorb.com
June 19, 1931
historyorb.com
June 19, 1931
2023 - There are plenty of places to go and things to do in West Haven. Here's a list to get you started:
Bradley Point Park: Start your West Haven adventure at Bradley Point Park. This waterfront park offers stunning views of Long Island Sound and is a great spot for picnicking, flying kites, or taking a leisurely stroll along the boardwalk. There's also a touching Veterans Walk of Honor, which pays tribute to local veterans.
Savin Rock Beach: West Haven is known for its beautiful beaches, and Savin Rock Beach is one of the favorites. It's perfect for sunbathing, swimming, or simply relaxing by the shore. The nearby Savin Rock Amusement Park adds a touch of nostalgia and is worth a visit during the summer months.
The Boardwalk: Take a walk along the West Haven Boardwalk, which stretches for over a mile and provides scenic views of the coastline. It's an ideal spot for a morning jog, a leisurely bike ride, or a sunset stroll.
West Haven Veterans Museum and Learning Center: If you're interested in history, this museum is a must-visit. It houses an impressive collection of military ... Read MORE...
Bradley Point Park: Start your West Haven adventure at Bradley Point Park. This waterfront park offers stunning views of Long Island Sound and is a great spot for picnicking, flying kites, or taking a leisurely stroll along the boardwalk. There's also a touching Veterans Walk of Honor, which pays tribute to local veterans.
Savin Rock Beach: West Haven is known for its beautiful beaches, and Savin Rock Beach is one of the favorites. It's perfect for sunbathing, swimming, or simply relaxing by the shore. The nearby Savin Rock Amusement Park adds a touch of nostalgia and is worth a visit during the summer months.
The Boardwalk: Take a walk along the West Haven Boardwalk, which stretches for over a mile and provides scenic views of the coastline. It's an ideal spot for a morning jog, a leisurely bike ride, or a sunset stroll.
West Haven Veterans Museum and Learning Center: If you're interested in history, this museum is a must-visit. It houses an impressive collection of military ... Read MORE...
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Discover Your Roots: West Haven Ancestry
Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in West Haven, Connecticut, USA
We currently have information about ancestors who were born or died in West Haven.View Them Now (sorted by year of birth)
Daniel THOMAS (13 February 1644, New Haven, Connecticut, USA (Westville) - February 1694, West Haven, Connecticut, USA)Samuel SMITH (4 December 1651, New Haven, Connecticut, USA (Westville) - 18 September 1726, West Haven, Connecticut, USA)Nathan SMITH (27 December 1656, New Haven, Connecticut, USA (Westville) - 11 June 1726, West Haven, Connecticut, USA)Samuel HUMPHREVILLE (1675, New Haven, Connecticut, USA (Westville) - 30 March 1748, West Haven, Connecticut, USA)Jonas MERWIN (1746, - 23 January 1831, West Haven, Connecticut, USA)
Dinah SMITH (31 October 1760, West Haven, Connecticut, USA - 23 November 1839, Southbury, Connecticut, USA)Samuel TROWBRIDGE (22 December 1761, New Haven, Connecticut, USA (Westville) - 21 July 1827, West Haven, Connecticut, USA)Daniel HODGE (1764, - 18 January 1832, West Haven, Connecticut, USA)Nathaniel BEECHER (1767, West Haven, Connecticut, USA - 27 March 1827, Southbury, Connecticut, USA)
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