Map of the First Ward, Hartford, Connecticut
MakerMade by the
Hartford Water Company
(American, founded 1851)
Date1866
MediumDrawing; black, blue and red ink on wove paper on fabric
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 52 1/4 x 69 1/2in. (132.7 x 176.5cm)
Sheet (height x width): 54 x 70 3/4in. (137.2 x 179.7cm)
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number1970.27.1
DescriptionMap of part of the city of Hartford from just north of Albany Avenue to the north to Church Street to the south. Garden Street and several unnamed streets are to the west and Windsor Street and Village Street are to the east. An arrow at lower left points to magnetic north. Water mains run along Myrtle Street, Church Street, a portion of Windsor Street, portions of Spring Street and Spruce Street, Village Street, Morgan Street, Talcott Street, Main Street, Ann Street, High Street, Pleasant Street, Ely Street, and Walnut Street. The Almshouse, Union Depot and associated tracks and buildings, and the State Arsenal are shown. The locations of hydrants and stop cocks are indicated.
Label TextEarly Hartford drew its water from the Connecticut River, the Park River, and individual wells. As Hartford's population grew and the city expanded, this proved inadequate, and in the 1850s, the newly established Hartford Water Company built a reservoir on Lord's Hill, a pumping station on the Connecticut River, and installed miles of pipes, replacing old wooden water pipes with new iron pipes. This 1866 map shows the extent of service in Hartford's First Ward at that time. In less than twenty years, the system had already become obsolete, and plans were already under way for the first of a series of reservoirs to be built in West Hattford.
NotesCartographic Note: One inch equals 125 feetStatus
Not on view
