c1908 SOUVENIR VIEWS OF HARTFORD CT 93 PHOTOS 64pp IMPT LANDMARKS BLDGS SHOPS

Description

Up for auction is a fascinating old book of "souvenir views" of Hartford, Connecticut, undated but likely from around 1908.
Souvenir Views of Hartford Connecticut
is an oblong, softcover publication, held together by two staples and with a handsome silver-stamped front cover with an Art Nouveau--style design. There's no publisher, printer, or date on the title page, but there are photos of the then-governor, Rollin S. Woodruff, and Hartford mayor, William Franklin Henney, which helped in dating the item, as Woodruff was governor from 1907-1909 and Henney mayor from 1904-1908.
The book measures approximately 9 inches wide by 6 inches high and comprises 62 pages (the numbers are printed at the top center of the glossy pages). There are horizontal and vertical views within, and sometimes as many as four images to a page, though the majority of pages are illustrated with a single photograph.
The title page, which also has a handsome image, in the Art Nouveau / Arts and Crafts style, reads:
SOUVENIR VIEWS
OF
HARTFORD
CONNECTICUT
Two pages later is the only page with text on it, and I'll transcribe it in its entirety, since it's not very long:
HARTFORD, the State Capital of Connecticut was founded in 1636. In that year, Thomas Hooker left Newtown in Massachusetts, taking with him his church and congregation, and travelling south through the wilderness, he reached the banks of Connecticut at about the present site of Springfield, thence following the stream southward he established the city on its present site.
Hartford has been conspicuous for many things in the life and development through a period of well nigh three centuries, but it is distinguished particularly for one event, unsurpassed in importance by any other in the history of free institutions; for it was here that the first written constitution for a free government among men was promulgated and adopted. The growth of the city from the date of its foundation has been steady, conservative, and well founded, and its advancement in beauty and attractiveness has kept pace with its industrial and commercial progress. It vast manufacturies show a wonderful variety and diversity of industries, and its product, the result of its splendid organization of skilled labor, is known and sought throughout the civilized world. It would be difficult to find any live community, the wide world over, which had not heard of Hartford machinery and Hartford insurance. There are many things in addition to its beautiful parks and its enviable physical situation, that make Hartford a very desirable city for those seeking a residence and home. Its schools, its churches, its college, its beautiful cathedral, its theological seminaries, its great libraries, and its intelligent and cultured population, combine to give Hartford a notable position among the municipalities of the country.
In the following pages will be found illustrations setting forth some of its attractions and industries.
The city now has a population of something over one hundred thousand.
Here are the captions on the photos within (there are 93 in all by my count):
1.
HON. ROLLIN S. WOODRUFF / Governor of Connecticut.
2.
THE CAPITOL
3.
HON. WILLIAM FRANKLIN HENNEY / Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut.
4.
CITY HALL.
5.
THE NEW BRIDGE OVER THE CONNECTICUT RIVER AT HARTFORD / LENGTH OVER ALL 1208 FEET, WIDTH 80 FEET.
6.
BROWN, THOMSON & CO.'S BIG DEPARTMENT STORE
7.
THE WADSWORTH ATHENEUM.
8.
THE CHARTER OAK NATIONAL BANK. / M. A. Andrews, Cashier.  J. P. Taylor, President.
9.
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MEMORIAL ARCH.
10.
2 photos: OFFICE OF THE S. S. SCRANTON CO. / Book Publishers  281 Asylum Street AND L. PARKER & CO. / Piano and Music Dealers. 153 and 155 Asylum Street.
11.
2 photos: JAMES DUGGAN & CO.'S DRUG STORE / 254 Asylum Street AND THE HUNTER TRUNK & BAG CO. / 162 Asylum Street, Allyn House Block.
12.
THE CORNING FOUNTAIN.
13.
CITY HALL SQUARE.
14.
2 photos: H. R. GRIDLEY. / Railroad and Steamship Ticket Agent. / 26 State Street. City Hall Square.
15.
C. W. PRATT. / 73-75-77 Pratt Street.
16.
2 photos: C. W. PRATT. / 73-75-77 Pratt Street.
17.
CORNER MAIN AND ASYLUM STREETS.
18.
ACTUAL BUSINESS PRACTICE DEPARTMENT, MORSE BUSINESS COLLEGE.
19.
CUPID FOUNTAIN, ELIZABETH PARK.
20.
THE PHILIP H. STEVENS CO. / Arthur L. Terwilliger, Pres.  Jewelers  12 Asylum Street  Philip H. Stevens, Sec. and Treas.
21.
WELSH'S ANTIQUE SHOP. / 247 Asylum Street.
22.
2 photos: G. WILLIAM McCLUNIE. / Florist. 16 Church Square.
23.
ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL
24.
SAGE, ALLEN & CO.'S BUILDING.
25.
MAIN STREET LOOKING NORTH FROM ATHENEUM.
26.
THE SPORTSMAN'S SHOP / Photographic Goods. The Angler's Co., Inc. 715 Main Street. Sporting Goods.
27.
3 photos: 164-166-168 State Street. OLDS & WHIPPLE. Established 1877. / Manufacturers of Fertilizers. Dealers in Ranges, Furnaces, Seeds and Agricultural (misspelled "Argicultural") Implements.
28.
2 photos: THE POST OFFICE. / MASONIC TEMPLE.
29.
MAIN STREET LOOKING NORTH FROM ASYLUM.
30.
C. H. CASE & CO. / Importers of Diamonds, Watches and Fine Jewelry. 851 Main Street.
31.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION'S BUILDING.
32.
AETNA INSURANCE COMPANY.
33.
2 photos: E. S. FRANCIS / Electric and Combination Fixtures and Electrical Supplies. 165 Pearl Street. AND C. W. KAPITKE. / Jeweler. 423 Main Street.
34.
BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF HARTFORD HOSPITAL.
35.
2 photos: CONNECTICUT RIVER AT HARTFORD, NEAR RIVERSIDE PARK and DOG ISLAND FROM HARTFORD BRIDGE.
36.
2 photos: STILLMAN & CO. / Manufacturers and Dealers in Furs and Skins. / Established 1832. 59 Pearl St.
37.
2 photos: ALLEN BROS. / Fine Groceries, Meats, Etc. 466 Main Street AND C. E. Miller. / Drugs. Corner Main and Mulberry Streets.
38.
VIEW OF ASYLUM STREET LOOKING EAST FROM TRUMBULL.
39.
WASHINGTON STREET.
40.
THE TRAVELER'S INSURANCE COMPANY'S NEW BUILDING. / CORNER MAIN AND GROVE STREETS.
41.
2 photos: BILLIARD PARLORS. / Jim Campbell, Prop. 17 and 21 Mulberry Street. AND CONNECTICUT STEEL & WIRE CO. / 308 Pearl Street.
42.
2 photos: FORMER HOME OF MARK TWAIN. and HARVEY & LEWIS. / Opticians and Photo Supplies. 865 Main Street.
43.
FARMINGTON AVENUE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
44.
2 photos: BRUCE FILLEY & CO. / Complete Housefurnishers. 103 Asylum Street AND BRUCE FILLLEY & CO.'S / Parlor Room and fifteen other similar rooms.
45.
ORIENT INSURANCE COMPANY / 20 and 22 Trinity Street.
46.
STATUE OF NATHAN HALE IN LOBBY OF CAPITOL.
47.
2 photos: TRINITY COLLEGE and HARTFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
48.
3 photos: EDWARD H. HANSEL. / Tailor. 721 Main Street, Room 17 AND WM. COE BILL CO., Inc. / Manufacturers of Hats. 100 Asylum Street.
49.
2 photos: C. H. Strong. / Fine Groceries, Meats, Fish, Etc. 131 Main corner Park Street AND J. J. SEINSOTH. / No. 5, P. O. Station. south End Pharmacy. 11 and 15 Main Street.
50.
2 photos: THE HARTFORD CLUB and THE ELKS' BUILDING
51.
2 photos: ELIHU S. COOK / Manufacturing Furrier. 91 Pratt Street AND A VIEW OF FARMINGTON AVENUE.
52.
2 photos: RISLEY & FISHER. / Linens, Cottons and White Goods. 93 Pratt Street AND THE BEAUTY SHOP. / 202 Trumbull Street. Mrs. L. P. Williams. Telephone 2377-5.
53.
2 photos: THE WM. BOARDMAN & SONS CO. / Wholesale Teas, Coffees, Etc. 304 Asylum Street. AND HARRY B. GREENOUGH / 5 Central Row. Trust Company Building.
54.
2 photos: GOVERNOR'S FOOT GUARD and A VIEW OF PARK RIVER
55.
2 photos: GOODWIN PARK LAKE and ELIZABETH PARK ROSE GARDEN
56.
THE SISSON DRUG CO. / 729 Main Street.
57.
2 photos: THE MODEL MARKET / Choice Meats, Groceries and Fish. Rene Bonneville, Prop. 123 and 125 Ann St. AND KEENEY TOWER.\
58.
4 photos: CROSSCUP & VALCOURT CO. / Decorators. 318 Trumbull Street / UNIVERSALIST BUILDING. / Headquarters of the H. C. Dexter Photo Co. / THOMAS OAKES & SONS. / Plumbers and Electricians. 9 and 11 Haynes Street. / THE FERNSIDE SCREEN WORKS, Inc. / 12 Church Street. Telephone 3774-3.
59.
4 photos: EDWARD MAHL. / Plumber and Gas Fitter. 270 Trumbull Street. / W. J. BURNS' MEAT MARKET AND GROCERIES. / 544 Asylum Street. / HARRIET BEECHER STOWE'S HOME. / On Forest Street. / FRED LENZ. / First-Class Bakery. 1213 Main Street.
60.
SHADY WALK WEST SIDE OF CAPITOL.
61.
KEENEY PARK DRIVEWAY.
The overall condition of this double-stapled oblong book of Hartford views is good to very good, considering its great age. The silver-stamped maroon / burgundy wrapper has minor spotting (including a flurry of little black dots, perhaps ink, on the front), smudging, fading, chipping, etc., but all in all it is in great shape. The paper within is age-toned / yellowed / darkened, with some ripples / wrinkles, rubbing, smudging, spotting, corner bends, etc. there's a one-inch horizontal tear on page 5 (see the sixth photo uploaded) and a smaller diagonal tear at the top of page 57. There are no human-made annotations, marginalia, underlining, or other markings seen anywhere, nor any major damage or flaws in the way of missing or clipped pages, water or liquid damage, tape repairs, etc. The two silver-toned staples have rusted a bit, causing some minor browning at the centerfold and on some adjacent pages. The book has neither a musty nor smoky odor.
This handsome and well-preserved circa 1908 publication,
Souvenir Views of Hartford, Connecticut,
is being sold AS IS, AS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND PICTURED WITHIN. I am setting what I feel is a reasonable starting price for the auction, and there is NO RESERVE. I am also including a Buy It Now price.
Shipping and
handling for the book, which will be sent in a rigid mailer: to U.S. addresses (via Media Mail).
If you are from another country and are SERIOUSLY interested in bidding on or buying this item, and only if you have 100% feedback, please contact me and I will do my best to get back to you with a quote for the shipping and handling. But please be aware of the fact that the U.K. and E.U. are now charging VAT for all purchases on eBay, with eBay adding the correct amount to the invoice (which could be a major deterrent to buying books for many outside the U.S. -- as if the steep cost of shipping internationally weren't enough!).
If you want the item sent more quickly to you (e.g., via Priority Mail in the U.S.), you must request this asap after winning or purchasing it (or beforehand, if possible), and I will adjust the amount accordingly.
I will do my best to send the item out to you no more than 2-3 business days following receipt of payment (that is, when eBay informs me that your payment has been posted to or otherwise cleared in my account).
If you are the winner or buyer of this item, PAYMENT IS EXPECTED WITHIN TWO WEEKS (14 DAYS) FROM THE PURCHASE DATE. If you cannot pay within this time frame, PLEASE contact me asap so we can work something out. I'm very flexible and understanding, but I would appreciate communication from you one way or another.
PLEASE NOTE THAT RETURNS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED NOR REFUNDS MADE FOR THIS BOOK OF VIEWS OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, SO PLEASE READ MY DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY, LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PHOTOGRAPHS I’VE UPLOADED, AND ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE CONTENTS OR CONDITION OF THE ITEM. THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING!
Thanks for looking, and please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions about
Souvenir Views of Hartford, Connecticut,
containing over 90 black-and-white photographs, many of them of long-gone retail and business establishments in the downtown area of the state capital.
PLEASE NOTE THAT I WILL HAPPILY ADJUST SHIPPING CHARGES FOR MULTIPLE PURCHASES!!!
ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT, IF APPLICABLE, eBAY WILL ADD ANY APPROPRIATE STATE SALES TAX TO THE INVOICE.