New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-06-21

remember that Connecticut of those
days was not the Connecticut of to-
day.
An old financial statement which
l recently found gave the total in
come of the state of Connecticut in
1882 as $so.So1. The population of
the state at that time was 100000
1t may interest you to know that
the population of Connecticut is to-
day five times as great as it was in
1882. But the state income of Con-
necticut is greater than the income
OF the whole United States in 1882
THE question now to be asked is:
Why did the State Normal school
come to New Rritaino' The answer
is that in addition to the fact that
New Britain is situated very nearly
in the center of the state, the offer
made by the citizens in respect to
building and equipment was mare
generous than that received froN,
any other locality. Pennington,
Southington. Middletown and other
places made their bids but they
we're not deemed as satisfactory as
the offer of New Britain
The leading citizen of New Brit
ain. at that time. was Mayor Seth
North and 1t was due to his efforts
and liberality that the sum of $16,-
$50 was raised for the erection or
purchase of a building suitable for
the work of the Normal school. The
EFFORTS OF Mr.. North were so greatly
appreciated by his fellow citizens
that they contributed 800 for the
purchase of a portrait of him which
should be hung upon the wall of the
North Hall of the Normal School
building. That portrait was remov-
ed in 1sS" to the Normal School
building erected at Walnut Hill and
four years ago it was brought to the
present building. This afternoon it
has been placed upon the stage of
this auditorium so that you all may
see the features of the man who was
really responsible for bringing the
Normal School to New Britain.
Original Subscribers.
WV ia NS u'oo dIlpIl6 Jul puS-
sessions the scroll of the one hun
dred original subscribers to the Nor
NAL School fund 1t is here, framed
and though it is impossible for you,
at the distance where you are sit
ting, to read the names. if / should
read them to you, you would recos-
nize the ancestors Of many of the |
prominent citizens Of New Britain
of today.
1T is fitting, also. at this time to |
call attention to the portrait of DR..
Thomas H. Gallaudet and DR.. Henry !
Barnard. DIR. Gallaudet's vas given
to the Normal School at the time |
the school was founded His influ- |
ence in creating favorable sentiment |
for the establishment OF Normal |
School and his distinguished position
as founder Of the American School
for the Deaf in Hartford was worthy
Of commemoration on the walls of |
the new state institution We have
also here a portrait of Or. Henry
Barnard. This is not a portrait OF
DR.. Barnard in the pine of his
Young manhood when he worked so
vigorously not only for the establish
nent Of this school but for every
other worthy educational cause, but
I is portrait of DR. Barnard at the
lose of his long career. The name
IF Dr. Barnard Is always coupled
With that Of Horace Mann of Massa-
'husetts and they have always been
recognized as the two most dis
inguished names in the history OF
In the United States, DR..
Barnard was the first superinten-
lent of public schools in this state;
re vas the first principal OF the New
srltain Normal school, and he was
he first Commissioner of Education
n the United States.
"Originally the parishes Of Wor-
hipgton (now Berlin), New Britain.
nd kensington we're a part OF the
own of Pennington. But in 1890
hey were separated from the town
f Pennington and formed the new
own Of Berlin. New Britain. there
ore. was part OF Berlin for many
ears. II had been the custom to
odd town meetings In the different