History of Meriden, Connecticut, USA

"About 1661, Jonathan Gilbert, pioneer, came down from northward and acquired, by virtue of purchase from the Indians, a large tract - practically the whole of the upper part of Meriden - which he called Meriden Farm."

A Modern History of New Haven and Eastern New Haven County, Volume 1 By Everett Gleason Hill

1806 - (Meriden, CT) - Formerly known as North Farms, the area was incorporated as a town from parts of Wallingford in 1806.

connecticuthistory.org/ towns-page/ meriden/

1819 - Meriden
Meriden is a small post town, situated in the northern section of the county, 17 miles from Hartford, and about the same from New-Haven; bounded on the N. by Berlin, in Hartford county, on the east by Middletown, on the south by Wallingford and on the west by Cheshire and Southington. Its average length from east to west is five miles, and its average breadth four and a half miles; containing twenty-two and a half square miles. The township is hilly, and some sections of it mountainous...

A Gazetteer of the States of Connecticut and Rhode-Island: Written with Care and Impartiality, from Original and Authentic Materials : Consisting of Two Parts ... : with an Accurate and Improved Map of Each State
Authors John Chauncey Pease, John Milton Niles
Publisher W.S. Marsh, 1819

1839 - Meriden
Meriden, Connecticut
New Haven county. This hilly and somewhat mountainous township has, in general, a fertile soil, and is watered by Quinnepiac river. It lies 17 miles S.E. from Hartford and 17 N.W. from New Haven. It was formerly a part of Wallingford, and incorporated in 1806.—Population, 1830, 1,708.

This is one of the most flourishing and enterprising manufacturing towns in the state. There is a considerable variety of manufactures here, forming the chief employment of the inhabitants. The following is a list of the manufactories, viz: 2 for patent augers and auger bits, 3 for ivory combs, 6 for tin ware, 4 for Britannia ware, 2 iron foundries, 1 manufactory for coffee mills, 1 for clocks, 1 for Norfolk door latches, 3 for block tin spoons, 1 for wool combs, 1 for skates and iron rakes, and 1 for gridirons. The value of articles manufactured yearly has been estimated from 800,000 to 1,000,000 of dollars.

About thirty years since a road was constructed from the... Read MORE...

1854 - Meriden
Meriden, a beautifully situated post-village of New Haven co., Conn., on the New Haven Hartford and Springfield railroad, 18 miles N. by E. from New Haven. It contains 5 churches, 4 of them new, a bank, and several extensive manufactories and foundries. Population of the township, 3559.
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.

1867 - Meriden, CT became a city

connecticuthistory.org/ towns-page/ meriden/

1870 - Fire
In Meriden, Ct., on the 15th, at a fire in Wilcox & Co.'s mill, EDGAR C. FENEYAK was killed and two other firemen injured.
The New Hampshire Patriot
Concord, New Hampshire
April 20, 1870

1888 - Fire
The barns of the horse railroad company at Meriden, Conn., were burned Tuesday night. Fourteen cars were consumed and eighty horses perished in the flames.

The Inter Ocean
Chicago, Illinois
January 12, 1888

1889 - Breaking of a Dam
Seventy-Five Acres of Water, Ten Feet Deep, Above Meriden, Conn., Released.
MERIDEN, Conn., Aug. 6. - Garlick's dam, holding back seventy-five acres of water ten feet deep, two miles above Meriden, broke this morning at four o'clock and allowed a torrent of water to sweep through a wild valley to the tracks of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, a half mile away. The water here poured through a small culvert into the Peat Works Pond on the other side...
The Scranton Republican
Scranton, Pennsylvania
August 7, 1889

1890 - A Train Goes Over a High Bank
MERIDEN, Conn., Nov. 21. - Train No. 2 on the Meriden, Waterbury and Connecticut railroad met with a serious accident at the Southington road trestle, six miles west of here, this morning. The train was a freight, and when midway on the trestle the brake beam of one of the coal cars dropped to the track, and the cars were derailed just after leaving the bridge. An embankment, 300 feet long and 40 feet high, extends on either side of the bridge, and down went two of the cars, dragging with them James McDermott and William Hart. The former was fatally injured and the latter seriously.
Reading Times
Reading, Pennsylvania
November 22, 1890

1895 - Meriden
Meriden, mér’i-den, a city of New Haven co., Conn., 18 miles by rail S.W. of Hartford, and 18 miles by rail N.E. of New Haven, and connected by rail with Cromwell and Waterbury. The city is situated partly in a valley and partly on a hill. It is known as the Silver City, and is one of the most enterprising of New England's cities. The capital invested in manufacturing is over $10,000,000, the annual product therefrom exceeding $25,000,000. The manufactures include electro-plated and solid silver-ware, brass and bronze goods, lamps, chandeliers, clocks, tinware, cutlery, steel, steel pens, malleable iron goods, firearms, organs, cut-glass, woollen goods, saddlery, harness and leather goods, power and stamping presses, coffee-mills, &c. The Meriden Britannia Company employs nearly 1500 hands and have an annual output of over $3,000,000. Meriden contains the state reform school, 3 national banks, 2 savings banks, 18 churches, high and graded schools, 1 weekly and 3 daily newspaper... Read MORE...

1897 - Thrown From His Wagon and Killed
Meriden, Conn., June 3. - Laughlin Stretch, employed by W. C. Twiss, lumber dealer, was killed in a runaway accident. Stretch was driving down a hill when lumber slipped upon the horse's hind quarters and caused the animal to run. Stretch was thrown out and his skull fractured.
Lebanon Daily News
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
June 3, 1897

1903 - Silver Workers Make Demands
Meriden, Conn., Sept. 30. - A demand for a nine hour day with ten hours' pay has been presented at all the factories of the International Silver company in this city and elsewhere, and it is understood that a similar demand has been made or will be made on every silver shop in the United States and Canada. In addition to the nine hour demand an allowance of "time and a half" for overtime work is asked for.
Pittston Gazette
Pittston, Pennsylvania
September 30, 1903

1904 - BAD FIRE IN CONNECTICUT. TOWN HALL OF MERIDEN DESTROYED AND SIX FIREMEN HURT.
Meriden, Conn., Feb. 15. - For eight hours Sunday firemen fought a fire which finally caused the complete destruction of the town hall and injuries to six men of the fire department. The loss is about $130,000, of which amount about $125,000 falls upon the town. The fire caught, it is believed, from crossed electric wires. None of the firemen were seriously injured.
Daily Telegram
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
February 15, 1904

1906
Meriden, a city of New Haven co., Conn., in Meriden township (town), on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R., 18 miles S. by W. of Hartford. The city, sometimes known as the "Silver City," is situated partly in a valley and partly on a hill and is one of the most enterprising of New England's cities, with important manufactures, which include electro-plated and solid silver-ware, brass and bronze goods, lamps, chandelieres, clocks, tinware, cutlery, steel and malleable iron goods, firearms, organs, woollen goods, hardware, steel pens, harness and leather goods, etc. Hubbard Park contains about 900 acres. Meriden contains the state reform school and the Curtis Home for Orphan Children and Aged Women and the Curtis Memorial Library. It was a part of Wallingford from 1725 to 1806, when it was incorporated as a town. It was made a city in 1867. Pop. of the town in 1900, 28,695; of the city, 24,296.
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

1906 - Train Wreck
MERIDEN, Conn., Nov. 29.- Two light coupled engines, north-bound from New Haven on the main line of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, crashed into a stalled freight train above Yalesville this morning, demolishing the caboose, two box cars, and one flat car, which was laden with oil barrels. Eugene Fowler of Windsor Locks and a brakeman named Lee, who were in the caboose, were badly injured.
The New York Times
New York, New York
November 30, 1906

1912 - Acid in Holy Water Fatal
Woman Found in Confessional Box at Meriden (Conn.) With Fatal Draught Near.

Meriden, Conn., July 22. - The body of Miss Cora Dessureau, 30 years old, daughter of Joseph A. Dessureau, was found by the caretaker in a confessional box at St. Joseph's church. There was a glass near her containing what is supposed to have been a mixture of carbolic acid and holy water, and her lips were badly burned. The medical examiner said death was self inflicted, but the family could give no reason for the suicide except that the young woman had appeared melancholy lately.
genealogybank.com
Belleville News Democrat
Belleville, Illinois
July 22, 1912

1913 - SCARE ON NEW HAVEN ENGINE JUMPS TRACK - Cars Enveloped in Steam, but Passengers Escape Injury - Driving Rods Broke.
Special to The New York Times.

MERIDEN, Conn., July 18. - The eastbound express train on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, which left New York at 5 o'clock this afternoon, was wrecked a mile west of Meriden at 7:10 o'clock to-night, when the big Pacific type locomotive left the rails and one of them had been sent flying through telegraph wires at the side of the track.

While no one was injured and only the locomotive left the rails, nearly all the passengers in the three Pullman sleeping cars and three day coaches making up the train, were badly scared. There was a stampede to get out of the train at the first shock due to the application of the emergency brakes...

Every passenger deserted the train within a minute after it had come to a standstill. After walking a mile up the tracks to the Meriden station they were sent forward on local trains toward Boston...

The train stopped after the locomotive had torn up the rails and ties for a distance of twenty feet.... Read MORE...

2023 - Whether you're a local looking for something new to do or a visitor exploring the area, here's a list of places to go and things to do in Meriden:
Hubbard Park: Start your Meriden adventure with a visit to Hubbard Park, the city's crown jewel. This expansive park boasts a beautiful, man-made pond, walking trails, picnic areas, and the iconic Castle Craig. Climb to the top of the castle for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside—it's especially stunning in the fall when the leaves change color.

Daffodil Festival: If you happen to be in Meriden in late April, don't miss the annual Daffodil Festival. This event features live music, food vendors, carnival rides, and thousands of daffodils in bloom throughout Hubbard Park.

Meriden Linear Trail: For outdoor enthusiasts, the Meriden Linear Trail offers a scenic route for walking, jogging, biking, and rollerblading. It winds through parks, residential neighborhoods, and natural areas, providing a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Castle Craig Forest: Located near Castle Craig, this forested area offers additional hiking trails and a chance to... Read MORE...