Victorian Hartford Revisited
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About this ebook
Tomas J. Nenortas
Tomas J. Nenortas, an avid collector; connoisseur of history, architecture, and genealogy; and ardent proponent of historic preservation, maintains strong ties to Hartford, where his family first settled over fifty years ago. He is affiliated with the Antiquarian and Landmarks Society and the Hartford Preservation Alliance.
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Victorian Hartford Revisited - Tomas J. Nenortas
know.
INTRODUCTION
What a difference a year makes. Since the first volume was published, Hartford has made great strides in preserving its historic architecture. The Hartford Preservation Ordinance has been adopted, adding greater protection to the thousands of buildings listed on the National and State Register of Historic Places. More and more people in the city have begun to embrace the concept that buildings should be viewed as assets and not liabilities. Many more are working to preserve and revitalize Hartford’s unique architectural heritage and neighborhood character, the mission statement of the Hartford Preservation Alliance of which I am honored to be a part. The capital city’s resurgence is tied to the success of its diverse neighborhoods. Pride of place is the main ingredient.
—Tomas J. Nenortas
All images are from the private collection of the author.
This view of Main Street shows a bustling and thriving city. Hartford is an extraordinary place to be in. Understanding what makes this a great city is vital to exploring what should be done to make it an even greater place to live, work, and visit.
One
A WORKING CITY
One reason why Hartford expanded so quickly was the extension of trolley lines into outlying neighborhoods. Other cities are reintroducing this economical and less polluting mode of transportation, something tourists enjoy and the city should be considering. Trolley car 500, stopping at Ashley Street, brought residents and visitors to the Asylum Hill neighborhood and the rest of the city.
Railroads came early to Hartford, supplanting the need for water transport. This new technology encouraged strong growth in manufacturing and trade. The railroad bridge, shown in the center, traversed Asylum Street and connected Hartford to Connecticut’s other lines.
Union station, the main passenger terminal, has been rebuilt twice over the centuries and continues to link passengers to the other cities and towns in the state and the region. Ways of attracting more uses for the restored structure are actively being contemplated.
The 1895 destruction by fire of the old wooden bridge that spanned the Connecticut River led to quick and clever capitalistic ideas. People could board a ferryboat or be rowed across by eager entrepreneurs. The new bridge would not be completed until 1908.
Walkers, horses, trolleys, and automobiles would soon be competing for space on Hartford’s roads. Within decades, the latter would consume and pollute the city. Reducing this demand is crucial to diminishing the need for parking and eliminating the monstrous garages that have scarred the historic landscape.
The new police station was built on the site of the old city hall, surrounded by Temple, Market, and Kinsley Streets. This assurance of safety, aided the economic vitality of the Front Street neighborhood. Neighborhood stability leads to economic growth, a factor needed in Hartford’s current climb to revitalization.
The Hartford County Jail was located in the Clay-Arsenal neighborhood. The 42 Seyms Street building was designed by prolific Hartford architect George Keller in the High Victorian Gothic style. The turreted building was demolished in 1978.
Connecticut’s State Arsenal was constructed at 264 Windsor Avenue (Main Street) and the corner of Pavilion Street. The 1813 complex ceased operations when the second armory was built downtown at 51 Elm Street.