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History of Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Journey back in time to Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Visit Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and genealogy.
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Hartford’s nickname is the Insurance Capital of the World.
Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe lived next to each other in Hartford.
In the late 19th century, Hartford was the wealthiest city in the country.
courant.com
There is MUCH more to discover about Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Read on!
Old Photos, Pictures, Advertisements and Postcards from Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Hartford, Connecticut, USA

1888 Colt's Lightning Magazine Rifles
Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Co., Hartford, Connecticut
Found at The Way It Was Museum, Virginia City, Nevada
Advertisement

Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Wm. H. Wiley & Son, Hartford, Conn.
The Ladies' Home Journal
March 1898
Advertisement

Hartford, Connecticut, USA

The Hartford Rubber Works Co., Hartford, Conn.
The Ladies' Home Journal
March 1898
Advertisement

Hartford, Connecticut, USA

5% Nickel Steel Tubing is found only in Columbia Bicycles
Pope Mfg. Co, Hartford, Conn.
The Ladies' Home Journal
April 1898
Advertisement

Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Old Center Burying-Ground, 1898
Historic Towns of New England. (1898). United Kingdom: G. P. Putnam's sons.
Photograph

Hartford, Connecticut, USA

The Capitol, 1898
Historic Towns of New England. (1898). United Kingdom: G. P. Putnam's sons.
Photograph

Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Main Street, 1898
Historic Towns of New England. (1898). United Kingdom: G. P. Putnam's sons.
Photograph

Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Statue of Israel Putnam, 1898
Historic Towns of New England. (1898). United Kingdom: G. P. Putnam's sons.
Photograph

Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Old State House, Now City Hall, 1898
Historic Towns of New England. (1898). United Kingdom: G. P. Putnam's sons.
Photograph

Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Looking across Connecticut River towards Travelers Building, Hartford, Conn.
Postcard

Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Hotel Bond, Hartford, Conn.
"Hotel Bond is a historic hotel, built in two stages in 1913 and 1921, in downtown Hartford, Connecticut by hotelier Harry S. Bond. It is located near Bushnell Park, and was considered the grandest hotel in Hartford... Read MORE...
Postcard
AncestryDNA: Genetic Testing Ethnicity by Ancestry.com
History, News and Stories of Hartford, Connecticut, USA

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1614 - Dutch trader, Adriaen Block, sailed up Connecticut River, landed near Hartford
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1633 - The Dutch erect a fort, the House of (Good) Hope, on the future site of Hartford.
The Dutch buy a parcel of land from the Indians, on what is the present site of Hartford, and build a fort/ trading post known as The House of Good... Read MORE...
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1635 - The English establish a permanent settlement at Hartford under the direction of John Steel.
Early Settlers of Connecticut www.ctstatelibrary.org/ subjectguides/ early-settlers-connecticut
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1636 - Thomas Hooker and company journey from Newtown (Cambridge), Massachusetts to found Hartford.
Other "Founders" of Hartford arrive, including the Rev. Thomas Hooker, Rev. Samuel Stone, and most of the congregation of the First Church of Christ... Read MORE...
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1639 - January 14 - 1st Connecticut constitution (Fundamental Orders) adopted in Hartford, published by Rodger Ludlow
historyorb.com
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1647 - May 26 - Alse Young becomes the first person executed as a witch in the American colonies, when she is hanged in Hartford,
historyorb.com
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1662 - Connecticut Colony is established in Hartford by royal charter of Charles II, taking its name from the Indian name of the Connecticut River: Quonektacat, meaning long river.
www.bethany-ct.com/ historicalSociety/ bhs-facts.htm
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1687 – King James II sends armed men to Hartford to seize the 1662 Charter of Connecticut, which is hidden in the Charter Oak; government under the old charter is restored two years later.
www.bethany-ct.com/ historicalSociety/ bhs-facts.htm
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History of Hartford, Connecticut
History of Hartford, Connecticut (www.youtube.com)
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1764 - Connecticut Courant
Connecticut Courant, the oldest American newspaper in continuous existence to the present, launched at Hartford by Thomas Green.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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January 29, 1780 - The temperature dipped to 20 degrees below zero at Hartford CT.
The Weather Channel
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1784 - Incorporated
Earliest Connecticut cities incorporated - Hartford, Middletown, New Haven, New London and Norwich.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1788 - Federal Constitution Approved
Convention at Hartford approves Federal Constitution by 128-40 vote.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1792 - Hartford Bank Established
In 1792, Hartford Bank was established with capital of $930,000.
The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia, Volume 3
Author Sir David Brewster
Publisher J. &... Read MORE...
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1793-96 - State House erected
Old State House, Hartford, erected; designed by Charles Bulfinch.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1796 - First cookbook written by an American was published in Hartford. The book was American Cookery by Amelia Simmons.
www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ connecticut.html
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1810 - Hartford Fire Insurance Company
Hartford Fire Insurance Company incorporated.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1815 - Voyage up the Connecticut River
First steamboat voyage up the Connecticut River to Hartford.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1817 - School for the Deaf
Thomas Gallaudet found school for the deaf in Hartford.
Hartford Times founded by Frederick D. Bolles and John M. Niles.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1818 - Constitution Adopted
New Constitution adopted by convention in Hartford and approved by voters; ends system of established church.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1819 - Hartford
Hartford, the seat of justice for the county and semi-capital of the State, is located on the west side of Connecticut river, fifty miles... Read MORE...
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1823 - College founded
Washington College (now Trinity) founded in Hartford.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1831 - Mutual Insurance Company
Mutual Insurance Company of Hartford founded.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1839 - Railroad completed between New Haven and Hartford.
The Hartford and New Haven Railroad, New Haven's first railroad was opened in New Haven to North Haven in November, 1838. An old newspaper gives an... Read MORE...
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1839 - December 28 - The third storm in two weeks hit the northeastern U.S. It brought two more feet of snow to Hartford, CT, and Worcester, MA. Whole gales swept the coast causing many wrecks.
WeatherForYou.com
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1842 - Art Museum
Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, first public art museum, established.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1844 - anesthesia
Dr. Horace Wells uses anesthesia at Hartford.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1853 - Aetna Life Insurance Company
Aetna Life Insurance Company started in Hartford.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1854 - Hartford
Hartford, a city, seat of justice of Hart ford county, and semi-capital of Connecticut, is situated on the right bank of the Connecticut river, at... Read MORE...
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1875 - Capital
Hartford made sole capital city.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1879 - Capitol building
New Capitol building in Hartford completed; Richard Upjohn, architect.
Timeline of Connecticut History
1882 - HARTFORD HIGH SCHOOL BURNED. ONLY THE WALLS LEFT STANDING - A LOSS OF $200,000.
Hartford, Conn., Jan. 24. - The public High School was destroyed by fire early this morning, the walls only being left standing. The fire started, it ... Read MORE...
1884 - A SHOCK OF EARTHQUAKE Felt Over a Large Region – A Vibratory Motion from Washington to Maine
...Probably Hartford, Conn., was the most shaken of any point heard from. At twenty-one minutes to three o’clock p. m., three long and convulsive... Read MORE...
1892 - FACTORY EXPLOSION.
Hartford, Conn., May 23. - At 4:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon the factory of the AEtna Pyrotechnic company, in Mechanic street, blew up with a... Read MORE...
1894 - CHILDREN ASPHYXIATED. IMPRISONED IN A FREIGHT CABOOSE BY A SPRING LOCK AT HARTFORD, CONN.
Hartford, Conn., July 30. - RAYMOND, aged 9; LEROY, aged 7; and FREDDIE, aged 4, the children of James W. Ganlon, a locomotive engineer on the New... Read MORE...
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1895 - Hartford
Hartford, a noted city, the capital of Connecticut, and seat of justice of Hartford co., was permanently settled in 1636 by a colony of one hundred... Read MORE...
1896 - "UNCLE TOM" - Its Famous Author Dies At Hartford, Conn.
Harriet Beecher Stowe and Her Career.
Was a Sister of Henry Ward Beecher.
Wrote Much - Her First Book Was Famous.
Almost exactly at high noon,... Read MORE...
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1897 - Pope Manufacturing Company
Manufacture of automobiles begun by Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1898 - Hartford - The Birthplace of Democracy by Mary K. Talcott
Among the historic cities of New England, Hartford claims a foremost place. Not only was its settlement of great consequence at the time, but for... Read MORE...
1898 - FIRE STOPS MASQUERADE BALL. Eight Persons Severely Burned at Germania Hall, Hartford, Conn.
HARTFORD, Conn., March 8. - At a fire in Germania Hall, corner of Main and Morgan Streets, last night, while the tableux were being prepared to open... Read MORE...
1899 - EXPLOSION AT STATE CAPITOL. Watchmen Were Investigating Gas Leak with Lighted Lantern - One Man Injured.
Hartford, Aug. 14. - Escaping gas at the state capitol caused Night Watchman James Keefe of this city and Assistant Night Watchman George H. Cooper... Read MORE...
1902 - August 22 – Theodore Roosevelt becomes the first American President to ride in an automobile when he rides in a Columbia Electric Victoria through Hartford, Connecticut.
www.wikipedia.org
August 22, 1902
1914 - FLAMES WRECK NEW HAVEN DEPOT AT HARTFORD, CONN.
Hartford, Conn., Feb. 21. - The Union Station of the New Haven Railroad here was wrecked by fire this afternoon and all train service interrupted. A... Read MORE...
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1916
Hartford, a city, port of entry, and the capital of Connecticut and seat of justice of Hartford co., is situated upon the W. bank of the Connecticut... Read MORE...
1927 - Flood
...At Hartford, Conn., 12 families were marooned on the second floors of their homes.. The Oelwein Daily Register
Iowa
November 4, 1927
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1929 - April 7 - Record heat prevailed across New England. Hartford CT reported an afternoon high of 90 degrees.
WeatherForYou.com
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1938 - The Great New England Hurricane of 1938
CAT 3 - September 21, 1938
The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 was one of the most destructive and powerful storms ever to strike Southern New... Read MORE...
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1939 - First FM radio station, WDRC-FM began broadcasting in Hartford
www.ereferencedesk.com /resources/ state-facts/ connecticut.html
1944 - July 6 - Ringling Brothers Circus tent fire in Hartford took 168 lives.
1944 - July 6 - World's largest circus tent catches fire at Ringling Brother's - Barnum & Bailey 2nd performance, 168 die (Hartford Conn)
Timeline of Connecticut History
July 6, 1944
1949 - Highway Safety Commission Lists 1948 Freak Accidents - Bad Place to Sleep
...A Hartford youth, pronounced by police to be under the influence of liquor after he left a tavern at closing time, sprawled out in the middle of... Read MORE...
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1950 - November 25-26 - Wind gusts to 100 mph recorded at Hartford CT
The Weather Channel
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1957 - University of Hartford founded.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1960 - Front Street redevelopment
Ground broken for first building in Hartford's Front Street redevelopment area; now known as Constitution plaza.
Timeline of Connecticut History
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1978 - January 18 - Roof of 3-yr-old Civic Center in Hartford, Ct collapses (no injuries)
historyorb.com
Hartford, Connecticut, USA Genealogy
Ancestors Who Were Born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA
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