Hartford’s Fourth Congregational Church, modeled on New Haven’s Center Church on the Green, was built downtown on Main Street in 1850. This original building can be seen in a number of historic photographs. In 1913, the Main Street property was sold for commercial development. William F. Brooks, the architect of Hartford’s Municipal Building and the New Britain Public Library, persuaded the congregation to keep the original church’s steeple and portico and use them on the new church, completed in 1914, at the intersection of Albany Avenue and Vine Street. Thanks to this early work of historic preservation, the later building preserves an important part of a demolished historic structure. The Fourth Congregational Church merged in 1953 with Windsor Avenue Congregational Church to form the Horace Bushnell Congregational Church. The church is now home to Liberty Christian Center International.
Hello,
I just found a clipping from the Hartford newspaper which stated my grandmother (Harriet Isabel Richardson) and grandfather (James C. Smith) were the first couple to have been married at your church. It states they were married at 7PM Tuesday evening by the Rev. Dr. J. J. Dunlop.
Does not state the date they were married. Can someone let me know the exact date? It was between 1914-1916 on October 12th.
Thank you, Barbara Martin,
You may be able to get the date thru the Hartford History Center, Hartford Public Library, on Main Street next to City Hall. They have all the Hartford Courant issues on-line for free. Or stop by City Hall and look for the marriage license/check with the church.
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