New Britain herald., 1921-04-12
By James Shepard. Nj. A.

therefrom of the new Town of New Britain. (which has always had two representatives although the act of incorporation limited it to only one) has no parallel in tho history of Con- nectiout. The contest which New Britain waged for full representation in the general assembly is referred to on Pages is7 and s of Camps His tory Of New Britain. The late Dr. Charles J. Hoadly reviewed this con- test in an article on Town Repre- sentation in the General Assembly" in the Connecticut State Register for 1892. and reprinted in a state pamph- let entitled The Constitution of Con- nccticut' with notes and statistics, Printed by Order of the Comptrol- Ter. lsoi." That portion of Dr. Hoad- ly's article which refers to New Brit ain, contains facts which I have no. found elsewhere. It is so clear and concise that l quote it in full.
 In 1850. upon the petition of Der lin that town was divided and a DOT ton or it incorporated by the name of New Britain with tho right of sending one representative to the general assembly. This act was passed on condition that the inhabi- tants of Berlin fnot including those within the limits of tho said new town of New Britain) should pass a vote rciinauishins all claim to have two representatives. and consenting e@ in 1851 and ever since the new town Of New Britain has sent two at each session. on the ground that New Britain was. in fac. the old town. re- taining tho old records of Berlin. and tho house of representatives resolved in 1853. that the Town of New Brit ain was entitled under the consti- tuition of this state to two represen- tatiyes in tho general assembly. At the same session, May, 1853, a joint resolution was passed repeating so much of the resolution dividing the Town of Berlin as limited New Brit ain to one representative.
 The Town of Berlin was incorporat- cd in i7s5 from Pennington. weth- ersheid and Middletown. It included three ecclesiastical societies, viz: Kensington, incorporated in 1705: 4NtW DTttnins ltofs anu "ortn1nEtOn, " 17T2. When the first United States census was taken in i7so the popu- iation of Berlin was 2.465. Town meetings were held in rotation in the Congregational meeting houses of the three societies. This plan ap- pears to have been satisfactory to all for over sixty years. About 1s4s or f7. the population of New Britain was approximately twice that of either of tho other two societies and 1t cast the major vote of the town. There came a desire to have the town meetings held in some place other than Congregational meeting houses and some felt that the greatest good of the greatest number required that New Britain should be the business center of the town. At special town meeting held in tho North Con- gregationai meeting house in the so- ciety Of New Britain on Tuesday. October IT. Is4s. 1t was Resolved. That it is necessary and expedient that c suitable Town House or build ing be constructed or procured to accommodate the public meetings of tho town for such purposes as may be deemed expedient."
 Resolved. That said town house or building be built or constructed or procured at a cost not exceeding four thousand dollars and that said building be located in tho Society of New Britain A little later this amount was increased to s4.400.
 number of citizens about this timc had subscribed a sufficient amount for the erection of new school building. The committee for procuring a town hall arranged with these citizens for the construction of a combined school building and town hall, 42 feet1Iwide and 70 feet long and this plan was adopted. Early in 1850 this combined echool-house and town hall was prepared for the use of the State Normal school and is now a part of the present Grammar school building.
 At the annual town meeting of Berlin. held at worthington October i, 1s4e. a committee was appointed to ascertain on what terms and con- dition suitable accomm odations for public meetings of the town could be provided In the societies of worthing- ton and Kensington and to report at q special meeting. whereupon it was voted that said special meeting shall be warned and called to be holden Tn the Hall of the building now being constructed" r.@
 The committee in charge Of the said building made their report at A special meeting March 14. 1ss0.l and their report was accepted. Thus tho hall in the Normal school build ing in New Britain became the town hall of Berlin. During that year the town hall was made the central point