east hartford | inside the CHS

I just finished a project over at Goodwin College in East Hartford: installing 4 large historic photographs of the Connecticut River in the school’s new library. Goodwin’s campus is located along the Connecticut River, and the Hoffman Family Library offers impressive views with its floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooking the riverfront.

Goodwin approached us with the idea of filling some of the library’s empty (dry)wall space with historic images that show how the river was used in the late 1800s and early 1900s, providing a link between today’s campus and the area’s past. Searching through our graphics collection, I found about a dozen images and worked with folks at Goodwin to narrow the images down to four.

It’s always gratifying to work with other organizations, helping them make use of the CHS’s collections to connect Connecticut’s history with the work and activities of today. Check out the images below to see the final installation and more info about the photographs.

Goodwin College in East Hartford: installing 4 large historic photographs of the Connecticut River in the school’s new library

Ferry crossing at Hartford, 1895

Steamer Hartford on the Connecticut River, 1900-1930

View east across the Connecticut River from South Meadow Station, Hartford Electric Light Company, Hartford, 1930-40s. Oil storage tanks are visible along the east side of the river, now the current site of Goodwin College. Beginning in 2005, Goodwin College purchased this property, removed the contaminated soil through natural bioremediation techniques, and built its 257,500-square-foot campus

View east across the Connecticut River from Brainard Field, Hartford, 1939. Oil storage tanks are visible along the east side of the river, now the current site of Goodwin College. Beginning in 2005, Goodwin College purchased this property, removed the contaminated soil through natural bioremediation techniques, and built its 257,500-square-foot campus

Ben Gammell is the Coordinator of Interpretive Projects at the Connecticut Historical Society

Do you have any idea what the weather was like on this day in 1860? According to Samuel Chapman of East Hartford, Connecticut, it was clear and pleasant, with wind from the south.

Samuel Chapman weather records, 1841-1874, Ms 16017. Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, CT

Chapman kept daily records of the weather between 1841 and 1874. The entries, as you can see in the above image, were very general and always included the direction of the wind. Occasionally, as in February 1848, Chapman noted information about local happenings. “NB the North River is open for Steamboats,” he wrote between the entries for February 4 and 5.

Of the entries I’ve read so far, my personal favorite is from May 1868.