Meeting of the Hartford Board of Street Commissioners

02/20/1895 |

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The Hartford Board of Street Commissioners met and considered several matters, including sewer assessments for Ashley, Huntington, and May streets.

The Board of Street Commissioners continued their hearing on the layout of Julius Street from the last meeting.

Annie H. Smith stated that if the street was put through, her property “would be worth little or nothing.”

The Board conducted a hearing on the construction of new sewers on Ashley, May, Huntington, and “other” streets “in that section.”

William F. Henney represented several property owners who “believed that the assessments were not equitable.”
Several property owners claimed that they had been led to believe that “they would not be put to further expense for sewers” by the Old Town Farm Committee, which had levied a surcharge on the purchase of town farm building lots for future sewer lines.
A protest from Alexander Cameron included a letter from E. Burr, which suggest that the committee “be seen and effort made to have the committee do something towards paying certain assessments.”
Henney stated that he would have a petition drawn up to request that meeting with the Old Town Farm Committee.
Several other protesters believed that property owners on Collins Street, who would benefit from these sewer lines, should be included in the assessment.
Other people stated that “their sewerage was perfect as it was.”
H. Bunce explained the sewer plan and stated that “some of the additional expense was due to the fact that part of the sewer on Ashley street would have to be placed lower in the ground and about 600 feet would have to be rebuilt.”

The Board received a communication from the Civic Club, which stated that the club would be happy to meet with the board about street cleaning.
Charles H. Northam and E. Cone reported on a plan to clean streets more thoroughly.
The Board received a communication from the Hartford Street Railway Company about overhead wires on Main, Morgan, and State streets.

The communication also included a request to begin its line on Garden and Ashley streets by March 1, 1895.
This request was referred to W. Gilbert for review.
Gilbert reported that the Garden and Ashley line “was not properly equipped” at this time.

This meeting shows the shifting responsibility for the Old Town Farm property, from the Town of Hartford to the City of Hartford.

On October 24, 1887, the committee on the sale of the old town farm reported that the sewer line in Ashley Street had been completed.
Owners of property around the proposed park protested the park’s design on August 17, 1894.

On April 5, 1895, the Courant will report that the Old Town Farm Committee had signed a contract to landscape Sigourney Square Park.
On February 20, 1895, property owners will protest an additional assessment to pay for sewer lines in the old town farm property.

“Some had paid such sums as $739 for lots, the $39 being for sewerage.”

William F. Henney had been a judge on the police court and currently served as the city attorney. He would later serve as mayor of Hartford.
Alfred E. Burr was the chair of the committee on the sale of the old town farm property, aka the Old Town Farm Committee.
Charles H. Bunce was the city surveyor.
Charles H. Northam was the president of the Hartford Board of Street Commissioners.
William E. Cone was a member of the Board of Street Commissioners.
Adolph W. Gilbert was the city electrician.

Unattributed. “Street board meeting,” Hartford Courant, February 21, 1895, page 6.

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