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| Our History Room Volunteers CLICK to enlarge |
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Al Gorman History Room
at Miller Library - Top Floor
Regular Hours: Tuesday 10 AM to 2 PM
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Last update
May 2, 2023
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The Bank Section
becomes
"The Bank Section"
The family of Ericsson Broadbent donated this historic digitized 16mm film of the 1926 dedication of the Hamden Bank & Trust Company's new building at the corner of Dixwell and Circular Avenues.
Connecticut Lt. Governor John Edwin Brainard was one of the featured speakers in a gala event that was attended by hundreds of Hamden school children, the bank's board of directors and employees, and the general public.
A small band provided music during a luncheon and inside tour of the bank, which featured its modern "burglar-proof" vault. This is a wonderful view of this iconic Hamden building and surrounding territory from nearly a century ago.
Posted 4/30/2023
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| CLICK on this image to learn more about the GreatGive. |
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The Hamden Historical Society was founded in 1928 and incorporated in 1945. As Hamden’s unofficial preservation agency, the Society works to highlight and preserve the town’s architectural heritage.
Over the years we have worked to restore and preserve the Jonathan Dickerman House Museum and Talmadge Cider Mill Barn, and saved the Rectory School Barn from demolition. We work with the Hamden Historic Properties Commission to document and preserve buildings of historic importance and interest in the town of Hamden.
The Historical Society provides tour of the Dickerman House Museum, maintains a local history room in the Miller Public Library, and in the past has hosted lectures and other programs on topics of local and regional interest.
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"Harold & Maude" - and Thornton
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From 1974 to 1976, Paul Keane served on Hamden's Bicentennial Committee, which was organized in early 1974 to prepare our town for the National Bicentennial observance during the summer of 1976.
I also had the honor of serving on the Bicentennial Committee, which included many legendary local luminaries such as Committee Chairman Herb Korte, chief engineer at radio station WELI; Honorary Chairman and Town Historian Rachel Hartley; Christian Rendeiro; high school History teacher Bill Pfeffer; and a noted artist whom I had known for a very long time, Jeaniegray Stokes Olesen.
I knew Paul Keane from when our families both lived in the same "Norwood" neighborhood, just east of Whitney Avenue between Centerville and Mt. Carmel. Paul's brother Christopher ("Kit") and I were both members of Hamden's Boy Scout Troop No. 1, which met Friday evenings in the gymnasium at Mt. Carmel School.
Paul's contributions to the Committee and, by extension, to the Town, may have been the most significant. During the observance, Paul befriended Isabel Wilder, sister of Hamden's award-winning author and playwright, Thornton Wilder. Their wonderful friendship resulted is some of Thornton Wilder's personal possessions being donated to the Wilder exhibit that opened at Miller Library in 1980.
Now a retired high school teacher living in Vermont, Paul is a regular contributor to the op-ed pages of The New Haven Register, often sharing his memories of growing up in Hamden. Paul recently wrote about his amazing and fortunate friendship with Miss Wilder, and we share it here on the Hamden Historical Society's website. Enjoy!
Dave Johnson
Hamden Historian
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Hamden now has the sixth highest Black population of any municipality in the state. In observance of Black History Month, we are featuring profiles of the legendary 19th century local medical practitioner known as "Doctor Hurd."
Below is a page about him from Hamden: Images of America (Arcadia Publishing, 2004), as well as a page from the Hamden Historical Society's Fall 2007 newsletter.
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A Message from HHS President Ken Minkema
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| 95 Ives St. |
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An Update on the Elam Ives House
The Hamden Historical Society has received some inquiries from the public expressing concern about the renovations occurring the Elam Ives House, at 95 Ives Street. Is the house being torn down? Moved? Happily, neither of these seems to be the case. The Regional Water Authority, which owned the house up till a short time ago, has sold the property to a private individual who, as far as can be determined, is restoring the structure, which has been deteriorating over the past decade and more. That individual has signed a conservation and preservation restriction--a good sign. Some fifteen years ago, the Regional Water Authority and the town of Hamden had struck a bargain: the RWA would make the property available at no cost, and the town would maintain it while respecting the restrictions on the watershed land on which the house is situated. Unfortunately, the town did not live up to its obligations, which forced the RWA to sell the property. The Hamden Historical Society and the Hamden Historic Properties Commission do what they can, but, frankly, we are challenged. Neither organization has the assets to purchase historical structures or the legal means to prevent the destruction of our town's historical structures and sites. How can you help? Become a member of the Historical Society (hamdenhistoricalsociety.org), attend its meetings and those of the Hamden Historic Properties Commission (which meets the third Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m.), and let your town officials and representatives know about your concerns. Get involved! Posted 1/6/2023
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| Paul Saubestre |
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Hamden Street Names
Paul Saubestre's ongoing research into the Hamden streets named for presidents of the United States has led him into a much wider project. He is compiling a list of the origins of the names all Hamden streets.
CLICK HERE for the Main Page with links to all Hamden street names in alphabetical order.
Do you have any comments or corrections to the street information? If so, please send them to Paul at pausau@sbcglobal.net.
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