Uncategorized

If you had visited Hartford’s Old State House during the days leading up to July 4, 1863 (the same period when the Battle of Gettysburg and Grant’s siege of Vicksburg were underway), you would have found two partially filled large balloons, awaiting the moment for their grand ascensions as part of the city’s Independence Day celebrations. One would be operated by Edwin C. Bassett, Hartford’s daring barber who was also a skilled hypnotist. Read my latest Substack to learn more about this and his other ballooning adventures! https://open.substack.com/pub/oldhartford/p/balloons-over-hartford-during-the?r=4j8x6h&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Pictured above is Hartford’s Eagle Hotel in an image from 1855. On the bottom right was the entrance to Edwin C. Bassett’s barber shop. In addition to cutting hair, Bassett gave lectures in which he demonstrated his amazing hypnotic powers! Read my latest Substack post to learn more!

Where in Hartford was the above stereograph taken? Find out in my latest Substack post, where you will learn about Mark Twain’s barber, who also ran Hartford’s first Turkish Baths.

Read my new post about the Hartford Times Christmas Carol Sing, once the largest municipal carol sing in the nation! https://open.substack.com/pub/oldhartford/p/the-hartford-times-carol-sing?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

A 45-foot tree in 1948. A 60-foot tree in 1949. A 65-foot tree in 1950. And a 70-foot tree in 1951! Check out my latest Substack post for the story of the four years when a Hartford department store hoisted a massive Christmas tree onto its roof! https://open.substack.com/pub/oldhartford/p/the-massive-christmas-tree-atop-sage?r=4j8x6h&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Learn the story behind G. Fox & Co.’s iconic Christmas Village display in my latest Substack post: https://open.substack.com/pub/oldhartford/p/g-fox-and-cos-beloved-christmas-village?r=4j8x6h&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

OLD HARTFORD CHRISTMAS with Dan Sterner
Wednesday, December 3 at 10:00 A.M.
South Windsor Senior Center
150 Nevers Road, South Windsor CT

FREE Program! Please call 860-648-6361 ext. 3335 to register.

Let’s remember the Holiday season of Old Hartford! This program will feature images from the city’s past with a focus on G. Fox’s beloved Christmas village display, (which had recreations of historic CT buildings), Constitution Plaza’s Festival of Light, the Hartford Times Carol Sing, one restaurant’s Thanksgiving menu over the years, and MORE! We’ll also remember stories of how Mark Twain and his family celebrated Christmas in the 1870-80’s!