Category: Wethersfield: A History
History of Trinity Parish (Episcopal)
The cornerstone of Trinity Parish was laid on June 1, 1871. The earliest history of Trinity Parish began in 1729, when the Rev. Samuel Johnson of Stratford, Connecticut visited Westerly, Rhode Island and Wethersfield, Connecticut for the purpose of establishing Episcopal churches at these places. These initial efforts were unsuccessful. In 1797, …
The Revolutionary Life of Samuel Blachley Webb
By Linda Pagliuco As long as it shall stand, the Joseph Webb house on Main Street in Wethersfield will be firmly linked to the name of George Washington. Fewer people know, however, that when Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the newly created United States of America, the …
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A Birds-eye View of Wethersfield’s History
The following set of maps were created by Phil Lohman, artist and Wethersfield resident. These birds-eye views are intended to depict, in fifty year increments, the development of Wethersfield and to highlight some noteworthy events. Please click on the illustration for a larger view. The maps and accompanying text were originally published in the …
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About the Author: Phil Lohman
Phil Lohman had a 23 year career with the Hartford Courant’s Graphics Department. In retirement, he drew a guide to trees on Broad Street Green for the Village Improvement Association. For the Wethersfield Library he illustrated locations described in Elizabeth George Speare’s award-winning book “The Witch of Blackbird Pond”, a …
Meet Mr. Wethersfield: Alfred W. Hanmer
By Abbie B. Dunn Meet Mr. Wethersfield! I was not privileged to know Alfred W. Hanmer, but from all I have heard and read, he was “Mr. Wethersfield.” If he were alive today, I’m sure he would be B.M.C.A.’s Man of the Year. Serving as First Selectman for 46 years, …
Joseph Emerson: Pioneer in Women’s Education
by Francis Wells Fox [The following account of the life of Joseph Emerson was written by Francis Wells Fox in 1934 for presentation to the Women’s Saturday Afternoon Club of Wethersfield. A brief history of that organization follows the article. Wethersfield’s Emerson Williams Elementary School is named in honor of …
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Governor Thomas Welles
by C.A. Baker [The building known since 1990 as the Keeney Memorial Cultural Center was completed and opened in 1894 as the Center School – then renamed Governor Thomas Welles School in 1933. Following is the story of Governor Thomas Welles after his arrival in America – excerpted from “The …
About the Author: Charles Baker
I grew up in Niagara Falls, New York, graduated from Cornell University in 1964, and after almost 40 years I retired from the construction industry in 2003. I am currently 71 years old. My wife and I moved to Tampa, Florida with our family in 1983. We currently have a …
History of Public Libraries in Wethersfield
Researched and written by John Crowe, Reference Librarian. 1983 Updated by Laurel Goodgion, Library Director. 2013. In March, 1783 the town’s first library was established by: Mr. Ezekiel Williams, schoolmaster; Mr. Joseph Webb and Col. John Chester, business men; and Senator Stephen Mix Mitchell, Judge of the Superior Court and …
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About the Author: Rafaele Fierro
Rafaele Fierro was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Italian immigrants. He went to Bulkeley High School in Hartford, got his B.A. from Trinity College in 1992 and his doctorate in immigration history from the University of Connecticut in 2000. He was inspired to to teach history …