Henry G. Beaumont (1829-1904) built the house at 26 Wells Avenue in East Hartford circa 1887 as a speculation and most likely rented the property until 1901. In that year, the house was acquired by Kate Harrison, wife of Charles Harrison (died 1911), who worked as a railroad yard clerk.
The building at 989-993 Main Street in East Hartford was built c. 1850. It was known as the Garvan Block or the Odd Fellows Building/Odd Fellows Hall, because it was later owned by Crescent Lodge No. 25, International Order of Odd Fellows and Rebekah Lodge (the Daughters of Rebekah began as the female auxiliary of the IOOF). There was also a post office located in the building. The structure was damaged by a fire on May 28, 1922. As reported in the Hartford Courant on July 21, 1922:
The Odd Fellows and Rebekah Building Association have completed plans for the renovation of the Gravan block on Main street, which was gutted by fire last May. The two upper stories of the building will be rebuilt entirely, and the whole frame will be stuccoed. There will be a Spanish tile roof [. . .]. The first floor will be used by various stores now occupying it. The second floor will consist of a lodge room, ante rooms, and a banquet room. The third floor will be used for billiard rooms and robing rooms. [. . .] It is expected that the remodeling will cost about $50,000. George Zunner of Hartford is the architect.
Built circa 1850, the house at 726 Burnside Avenue in East Hartford was used by the Burnside Methodist Church (now New Covenant Methodist Church) across the street as a parsonage from the 1910s until 1944, when it was sold to private owners. The house is a variation on the typical Greek Revival form, with the front entrance being located on the ell, rather than on the main block.
The house at 67 Church Street in East Hartford was built as a five-bay Federal-style house by Stephen Cadwell shortly after he bought the land in 1822. He sold it just a few years later. The sixth bay to the north was added c. the 1870s. The bay window on the south end was also added later.
The William Smith House at 166 Silver Lane in East Hartford is thought to date to as early as 1730, a year before the dirt path in front became town property. Smith had to arrange with his neighbors and the town to get road access to his home. Smith also owned the house next door, at 158 Silver Lane, which he ran as a tavern. Both buildings have been much altered over the years. In the 1920s, the house was the first in East Hartford to be decorated with electric Christmas lights. By the 1930s and 1940s owner Raymond C. Dunn’s elaborate holiday displays attracted people from far and wide, causing traffic jams. A police officer was needed to direct traffic. A contest for the best Christmas display each year was discontinued because he won every year.
Now a two-family home, the house at 91-93 Burnside Avenue in East Hartford was built c.1760-1775 by a member of the Hurlburt family, probably Joseph Hurlburt (1744-1796). The property passed to his son Nathaniel (died 1819) and then to another son, Luman Hurlburt (1788-1865). Joseph served seven terms as town clerk and Luman served six terms as town selectman. Luman‘s son, Joseph Olmstead Hurlburt (1822-1899), heavily mortgaged the house after his father’s death and it was soon sold out of the family. Both Luman and James Olmstead Hurlburt served as state representatives, in 1841 and 1863 respectively. As related in the Commemorative Biographical Record of Hartford County, Vol. I (1901):
Joseph O. Hurlburt, the father of this family, received his education in East Hartford, and for several years taught in the old North school, Hartford. During the last twenty years of his life he was principal of the Wethersfield high school, and he died March 18, 1899. He was a member of the County and State Teachers Association.
The house at 86 Central Avenue in East Hartford was built between 1894 and 1903 by Joseph Hamilton, a clerk. He acquired the property from P. Boyle, who had acquired it from Patrick Garvan, who developed Garvan Street. It was one of several lots acquired by Garvan in 1871. This well-preserved example of the Queen Anne style displays the use of contrasting siding on two different stories.
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