Cornerstone laid at Asylum Hill Congregational Church

F. Irvin Davis (1908) and Melva Swartz (1940) both give the date for this event as May 5, 1865. Atwood Collins (1915) said that it took place in May 1865 and doesn’t give a specific date.

Construction on the church was underway by April 3, 1865.

The Courant provided an update on the construction of the church on August 4, 1865.

1. “The ceremonies of laying the corner stone for the Asylum Hill Congregational church, took place at 6 p. m. yesterday.” – Note that “church” is not capitalized. This was a common convention in the Courant during this era.
2. “Remarks, appropriate to the occasion, were than made by Rev. Dr. Hawes and rev. Prof. Stowe ….” This was one of the rare articles in which Stowe was referred to as “reverend.”  It was much more typical that he was titled “professor” only.

Swartz, Melva J., “Hill Church Will Observe Anniversary,” Hartford Courant, March 18, 1940, page 1.

Unattributed, “Fiftieth Anniversary of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church,” Hartford Courant, February 14, 1915, page X5

Unattributed, “History of the Hill Church – F. Irvin Davis Gives It in Brief,” Hartford Courant, March 2, 1908, page 4.

Unattributed, “Laying a Corner Stone,” Hartford Daily Courant, May 3, 1865, page 2.