Museum purchase, 1977.40.0 Photograph by David Stansbury © 2013 The Connecticut Historical So…

Hartford Bell Tower, Squad A

PainterPainted by Louis Orr American, 1879 - 1966

Date1908

MediumPainting; oil on cardboard in gilt wood frame

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (cardboard height x width): 25 x 18in. (63.5 x 45.7cm)
Frame (height x width x depth): 33 x 26 x 1 1/2in. (83.8 x 66 x 3.8cm)

ClassificationsPainting

Credit LineMuseum purchase

DescriptionA large bell is supended in a tall wooden tower that is located behind a two-story building Several barrels are beside the door of the building. It is night, and there are lights in the windows. Additional buildings and chimneys are at the right and in the background. Part of a fire engine is visible in the right foreground.

Object number1977.40.0

MarkingsOn back of frame, on gummed label, typed in black ink, "THE CONNECTICUT HISTORICAL SOCIETY / 'HARTFORD BELL TOWER. SQUAD A" - oil / Signed: Louis Orr / ACC. NO. 1977-40-0"

On back of frame, on gummed label, printed in black ink, "CURTIS H. MOYER / PICTURES AND FRAMES / 105 PRATT ST. / HARTFORD CONN."

On back of backing, newpaper clipping "Friends Honor Memory of Orr / Recall Etcher's Hartford Youth", The Hartford Times, March 5, 1966InscribedOn back of both the inner and outer moldings of frame, in red paint, "1977-40-0"
NotesSubject Note: The Hartford Fire Alarm Bell was located at 43 Pearl Street from 1881 to 1921, when Squad A was at that address. Subsequently the structure was torn down and the central headquarters for the Fire Department was moved up the street to 275 Pearl Street. Photographs and prints in the Connecticut Historical Society collection depict the structure beneath the tower as a taller flat roofed building. This painting may depict an earlier structure which was subsequently changed by elevating the roof line and flattening it. The Hartford Fire Alarm Bell itself is now part of the collection of the Connecticut Historical Society.

Subject Terms