New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-11-03
DOT on LANDSCAPE
NOW THRIVING CITY
Ilia Sted in 1884 No Better
:. Ibln Gov Path
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lAAh8C0 W oioo0 0aA "Ao AS"SAS 49,
sidewalks was the town OF New
Britain in 1884.
The buildings we're few in number
and small in size. The Baptist
church stood at the head OF Main
street; the old North church, the
only Congregational church in the
city, stood at the present side of the
old Burritt school and the Metho-
dist church stood at the corner of
Main and Walnut streets. Later the
Swedish Bethany church occupied
the site.
The only thoroughfares were
Main. Eas. Main. West Main, and
East street. Myrtle street was the
first to be opened UP afterwards
and Washington street was next
opened.
Few Houses on Main Street
There were only few houses on
Main street. 1t is safe to say none
OF the buildings are standing today.
There was the old Lee house south
of st. Mary's church. The old wood
en- building which belonged to the
late Bernard Clark which stood
south of the Cream block was the
home of Philip Lee who kept tav-
ern and conducted a livery stable
in the rear.
The next building was the post
office which was located on the site
OF the Palace theater. The late Lor-
EMO Lee was postmaster. Aside
from the old North church at the
corner Of Main and East Main street
no other buildings stood between
what Is now the Palace theater and
the City National Bank which was
then the old Strickland house.
Steven Strickland kept a millinery
store. Henry North lived across the
street and manufactured hooks md
eyes in the rear Of the dwelling.
There was no Commercial street
hut at the corner where the res
taurant now stands there was an
other manufacturer, f. T. Stanley,
who made locks in the building.
Later Commercial hall was made
part OF the building. Two small
buildings stood north OF Booth 5
block and Alonzo Stanley, dear
and dumb tailor, kept a shop in one
Of these houses.
Some years later the tailor went
to the depot to see the steam cars
come In. He slipped and fell on the
track, and was run over and killed.
He was the FIRST person killed by
the cars In New Britain.
Ira Stanley lived in the house
which stood where the First Con-
Eregational church now stands and
william Humphrey kept tavern at
the site Of the Besse building. Only
two buildings stood south of the
Besse building in 1894.
Buildings on the western side Of
Main street were the Methodist
church at the site of what is now
the northern corner of Main and
Walr ut streets and another wooden
buildings which was later the home
OF the late William II. Hart. Text
in the line was the late DIR. Samuel
Harris homo and office. Then there
was the boarding house which was
kept by Mrs. o. c. Stanley which
was where the Boston store now
stands. A Miss Lee conducted a
Ladies' seminary" at the corner of
Main and West Main streets.
Hay Scales at Central Park
There were no sidewalks, Central
park was used as a baseball field
and there were hay scales on it.
There were no railroads and trana
portation from one town to another
was BY stage coaches. drawn by one
or two horses. The stage drivers
were George Hart and John Judd.
There was a wooden bridge across
Main street where the railroad
tracks now are. A stream Of water
ran under 1t and on the east side
the water was diverted into a canal
built by the late Major North and
carried to the old Sargent factory
where Mr.. North manufactured
bells, running his factory by water
power.
New Britain. Kensington. and
Berlin were in the same parish in
1884. and the population was from
IsoVV 70 OWN. lHeIe "tIc dUout wv
voters, contrast with the present
time when 20,S36 are eligible to vote
in the national election. The votes
were divided equally at that time
between the democrats and wings.
Many changes have come about
since 1884. The town was separated
from Berlin and kensington. its
population has increased to nearly
$4,000. miles of streets have been
opened, the town government has
been succeeded by city goveI-
ment, and the factories are no long
er run by water power.