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High school info by Susan Barlow of the Manchester Historical Society The former South Manchester High School was constructed with funds donated by the Cheney brothers. It was dedicated in 1904, and served as Manchester’s public high school into the 1950s, when the “new” high school opened on Middle Turnpike East. Junior high school classes were held there until its conversion to apartments. According to The History of Manchester, Connecticut, 1923, by Spiess & Bidwell, “After the closing of the Center and the East Academies about the year 1870, there was no private institution in town which provided instruction in high school subjects. “In 1902, Superintendent of Schools Fred Verplanck began to examine other schools and solicited proposals from various architectural firms. The school was designed by architects Hartwell, Richardson, and Driver of Boston, and built by Beattie and Wilcox of Fall River, Massachusetts.” The building is a fine and sturdy example of Colonial Revival style, with its symmetry and classically derived details such as the frontispiece with Doric columns, flat arches with keystones, quoining, and modillion cornice.
Inside, it has wood paneling and doors, transoms,
and all the “modern” amenities of the time. On the top floor was an
auditorium for assemblies and concerts, quite a hike up the stairs,
with no elevator. North of the school was the house where
Superintendent Dr. Fred Verplanck lived. |
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The east side
of Main Street at the corner of Brainard Place during the
early 1900s. The corner of Bissell Street has a snow covered structure
set back from Main Street. This location would later become the site of the
State Theater, built in 1924. Store fronts
identified such businesses as Madden Brothers, a bicycle shop that also sold
Stromberg-Carlson radios, The Great Atlantic & Pacific
Tea Company, J. Goldman's Park Shoe Store, and the ?? Drug Company.
Compare this scene with the modern day (2003) version just below. John Knoll photo |
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The same section of buildings along Main
Street stretching from Brainard Place to Bissell Street shows what little
effect time has had on Main Street. This photo was taken in January 2003.
Dick Jenkins photo |
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Refer to the first picture on this page for orientation.
The dark sign at the top is the "Drugs" sign in both photos. If you are old
enough to recall the Park Theatre, and can see the sign just above the man
cleaning the sidewalk, you will have a good point of reference. The Park
Theatre stood between the Salvation Army and the one story brick structure,
formerly the Triple X Store, on the corner of Brainard Place. Mary Cheney Library (built in 1937) has yet to be built, but Center Congregational Church stands proudly at the "Center".
John Knoll photo |
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Early times in town
The two white faced buildings known as the Johnson Block are the
same 2 that appear at the top of this page. The white building
further up Main is the Park Theatre where currently the Salvation
Army's new wing resides. Center Congregational Church appears in the
upper left. Main Street is void of businesses south of the Johnson
Block to Bissell Street. This picture was taken from the west side
of Main Street directly opposite the future site of the State
Theatre.
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The Hotel Sheridan is under
construction in preparation for Manchester's Centennial Celebration in 1923.
It was built by John F. Sheridan, then retired police chief. The Sheridan once stood nearly on the corner of Pearl Street. A billboard can be
seen covering the expanse between the hotel and the corner. Eventually the
billboard would be removed and parking space provided for permanent
residents of the Sheridan Apartments. The trolley tracks are located near
the middle of the street as we approach the center. Note the gas pump
north of the hotel at street side. Wouldn't OSHA have fun with that? John Knoll photo |
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Main Street as it appeared in 1932. The trolley is making its way past the Watkins building. McLellan's Stores Company, a variety store, occupies 975 Main Street. and can be seen in the upper right. This photograph, taken by Leon Fallot, appears through the generosity of Sylvian Ofiara as part of the Ofiara Collection. New entry |
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The dedication
of Manchester Memorial Hospital took place on Armistice Day, November 11,
1920. Two great tablets appeared in the vestibule containing the names of
the town's soldiers and sailors that served in the great war. The dedication
inscription reads: "The hospital is dedicated to the men and women of
Manchester who served the town, state and country in the great war of 1914 -
1918." Haynes Street looks a bit different today.
John Knoll photo |
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The Poor House, or
Poor Farm or Almshouse, was erected along a stretch of
Middle Turnpike in 1912. In present times, this plot of land is occupied by
the police department's main facility. The Almshouse was renovated in 1954 by Chief Schendel's volunteer crew of police officers. The town's leaders were faced with an outside contractor's original bid of $150,000. The officers, working without pay, converted the facility for half that cost. Oh, one exception, John Krinjak was paid for laying 9,000 square feet of flooring and tile because of his labor skills. John was the uncle of our own Dave Krinjak and would later become a detective. John Knoll photo |
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Manchester
Police Department -1921 From left to right; Chief Sam Gordon, Capt. Herman Schendel, Sgt. Michael Fitzgerald, officers "Red" Crockett, William Glenney, Bing Fitzgerald, William Barron, Rudy Wirtalla, Jack McGlinn, and Joseph Foley. The motorcycle, a 1921 Indian, and a cruiser made up their inventory of vehicles, a total of two. By 1925 the fleet grew by two more motorcycles. Years later, in 1954, under the leadership of Chief Schendel, the Almshouse above would be converted to the town's Police Station. This structure would finally be destroyed in 1996, making way for today's modern facility. This photo appears through the generosity of the Manchester Police Department, Officer Jonas Searle, Department Historian |
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Bill Green and
his
Bike Shop was located at 180 Spruce Street. Bill's tiny shop once occupied the
spot where Luca The Tailor is currently situated. To see more of Bill's shop
and learn more about this soft spoken man who spent a lifetime repairing and
selling bicycles and accessories follow these links , Bill Green's Bike
Shop and Bill Green's Impeccable
Reputation. Photo courtesy of Luca Addabbo |
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Manchester
Pipe Band This photo is part of the William Taggart (1893-1983) family collection and appears through the courtesy of Sandra Taggart-Finnegan-Jenkins
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The Class of
1955 remembers Officer Ray Peck. He was a familiar sight along Main
Street as we roared away from high school to parts unknown. Officer Peck is
shown here in 1959 with the force's first marked police car. Now wouldn't
that have made life much simpler for us high school kids if the markings
began a few years earlier? Ray Peck was a fine officer.
Photo courtesy of Manchester Police Department, Officer Jonas Searle, Department Historian
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As schoolchildren we generally walked to and from school. For most of us a portion of our trip took in Main Street. We recall these faces in particular, as Officers Dave Galligan (center) and Newt Taggart shared the Main Street beat. We also recall Chief Schendel (left) leading the police force compliment during our annual parades. Both Officers Galligan and Taggart walked their beats until their untimely deaths at age 63 and 54 respectively. Their combined years of service totaled 98 years. The Chief was a tall man, over six feet, walked straight as a ramrod and was seldom known to smile. | ||||
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The Ferris building
as it appeared at the corner of Main and Oak Streets in 1918.
According to Susan Barlow of the Manchester Historical Society this
building was rotated 90 degrees and made to face Oak Street in 1920
to make room for Watkins Brothers' furniture store. Thanks to John
Knoll (1887-1955) famous for his Manchester photography we have this
wonderful record of Manchester's past. John Knoll photo enhanced by Dick Jenkins New entry |
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The Auction
Pavilion once stood in Charter Oak Lots. The pavilion served
as an auction place for the selling of tobacco, strawberries and
other crops grown in the Manchester area. The road in the foreground
is Charter Oak Street just a few feet east of the Main Street
intersection. The corner of the building in the lower right is the
Little & McKinney Grain Store. Circa 1951.
This photo appears through the generosity of
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People gather in
front of G.E. Keith Furniture Company on the corner of Main
and School Streets in anticipation of a parade. The 1-story business
beyond is Magnell Brothers Drug Company. Main street is a dirt
thoroughfare now and horseless buggies are slowly replacing the
horse and wagon.
John Knoll photo enhanced by Dick Jenkins New entry
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One of the most popular places the Class of 1955
visited regularly was Deci's Drive-In. They had the most delicious
foot-long chili dogs and burgers to say nothing of their fried clams. A
Friday or Saturday at the drive-in theater at the "Notch" wasn't complete
without a chili dog, fries and a Coke at Deci's. Besides having wonderful
food the Deci's brothers, Tony and Crescent were entertaining with their dry
sense of humor and the jargon used to place your order. If you
wanted everything on your hamburger Tony would shout, "Drag it through the
garden." Deci's closed sometime in the 70's and they are sorely
missed today as fast- food drive-ins dispense food without taste or
personality.
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In April of 1922 the school children of
Manchester were given a special treat - a trolley ride from the
corner of Wells Street to Laurel Park, then due south of Wickham Park.
According to local
historian Gladys S. Adams (1910-2001), “Laurel Park fell into
disuse….The last mention of it was ‘In October 1923 a dance was held
in honor of Manchester’s Centennial, after which the park was closed
for the winter.’” The old car heading south on Main Street is approaching the intersection of Main and Charter Oak Streets. The building seen at the terminus was a feed and grain store in our time and before that the W.H.Cheney's Store stood at this location. John Knoll photo |
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The Daughters of the American Revolution, Orford Parish Chapter donated this fountain to the town on July 9, 1921 in memory of the soldiers of the Orford Parish who fought in the American revolution. Miss Mary Cheney was second Regent of Orford Parish Chapter (1897-1901) and most likely provided the money for the fountain. Its original location is shown here where it served as a watering trough for horses and people for about 10 years. During the renovation of East Center Street it was moved to the Hartford Road and Main Street terminus. Later it resided at the Bunce School on Olcott Street. About 1960 it was moved down the street to the highway garage. The Orford Parish Chapter has since had it moved back to Center Park, next to the Probate Court in 1975. | ||||
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The
Manchester Herald was operating out of a two story building on Hilliard
Street until November 18, 1922, when it was gutted by
fire. The Hartford Courant was quick to come to their rescue and print the
paper for a week while the Herald set up temporary operations on Oak Street.
Three weeks later, the Herald was back in operation in its Hilliard Street
plant. They would in 1928 move to Bissell Street. The building originally
built by the Knights of Columbus The Herald published its newspaper from December 7, 1881 until June 28, 1991. John Knoll photo |
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Not much is
known about this photo other than there are indeed nine very successful
players and a coach who once called themselves the Highland Park Community
Club. The actual club stood just feet away from the natural springs at
Highland Park. We believe there were four teams in town at the time, the
Heights, Westsiders, Highland Park CC and another that is yet to be
determined. 1st row: Dick Nichols, ? Morrison, Mgr. Charles Nichols, ? Hewett, unknown 2nd row center: Otto "Dutch" Senkbeil John Knoll photo |
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The Heights baseball
team gathers for a photograph near their playing field north and
east of the intersection of Autumn and Oak Streets. Little is known
about the photograph. Should you have information about the team or
its players please contact the web site.
John Knoll photo enhanced by Dick Jenkins New entry |
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The Old
Methodist Episcopal Church stood on the corner of Main Street and
Hartford Road where now stands South United Methodist Church. The woman with
baby carriage is passing by a fountain. This fountain now stands in Center
Park just west of the Hall of Records. This photo is taken
looking northwest where we see the beginning of Hartford Road. Old Methodist
Episcopal Church was erected in 1854.
John Knoll photo |
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Manchester
loved a parade and it seems they had one at the drop of a hat. These two
gentlemen, members of the fire department await to be summoned to
join the parade. G. E. Keith Furniture forms the background for this
picture and is situated on the corner of School and Main Streets.
John Knoll photo |
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Hose Company
No. 4 located on School Street. Did you know that Hose Company No. 4 was
once a wooden structure until October 23, 1913 when it burned to the ground?
This was the day of the Ninth District School fire when cinders carried
across School Street and destroyed the fire house and several other large
wooden structures. The Ninth District School was a huge complex filling the
block between School and Wells Streets, and Main and Vine. All of the nearly
1,100 students and faculty walked away from the complex without injury.
Read more about this fire by visiting this
article. John Knoll photo
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The Old South School once stood on the
land where the Lutz Children's Museum is now located on South Main
Street.
John Knoll photo
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Globe Hollow
Reservoir was built by human hands using horses, teamsters and workers with
shovels. It was completed in 1914. I imagine that the swimming pool
fed by the spillway took shape about that time as well. Many a youngster has learned to swim at
Globe Hollow.
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| Cheney Brothers Cravat Department held its 4th Annual Outing of the S.O.S. Club in East Hampton on June 14, 1930. There are many people that can be identified here. Henry Bengston is tie-less in the front row, George Torrance wears a suit jacket. Dot Jenkins and Ethel Wilson-Duncan are numbers 1 and 2 in the 2nd row. Hazel Russell is number 5, Mary Bond is 3rd from the end, Cap Larder is the last person in row two. Third row: 4th from left i s William Irvin. Albert Tedford and Tom Kerr appear in row 3. I would appreciate any help naming the others. Dick Jenkins family photo | |||||
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Weekend entertainment at its best. Quite a
crowd has gathered to watch a baseball game at what would come to be
known as the 4-acres. If you were to stop along Cooper
Street and look to the corner of Cooper Hill and Cedar Streets the
two far off structures still prevail.
Can you imagine today's generation wearing their Sunday best and standing through a nine inning ball game?
John Knoll photo |
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Cheney Hall
was dedicated by Horace Greeley in 1867 as a meeting place for employees of
Cheney Brothers. It was also used at various times throughout its history as
a library, church, political hall, school, theater, concert hall, armory,
ballroom, basketball arena, hospital, sales outlet for Cheney produced
goods, and home of the county fair. Here, in this photo, folks are
celebrating the centennial of Manchester, and the year is 1923. The architecture is that of the French Second Empire style. Features include mansard roof, brick and brownstone arches, carved oak and chestnut trim and a magnificently restored 1866 E. & G. G. Hook tracker organ. John Knoll photo |
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Manchester's
Centennial Celebration in 1923 was quite the event, according to records.
Here we see ladies dressed in their finest, gentlemen in their Sunday
go-to-meeting clothes, and Armed Forces departing Cheney Hall for parts
unknown. Hartford Road was not yet paved and quite narrow by today's
standards. Cheney Hall is owned by the Town of Manchester and leased to the Little Theater of Manchester who maintains and schedules the use of the building. The Little Theater of Manchester raised $1.8 million of the $2.8 million cost of renovation. John Knoll photo |
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Manchester
Country Club's original club house still stands at its
original location along the east side of South Main Street and south
of Fern Street. John Knoll photo |
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The trolley
tracks ran down Main Street nearly to the intersection of Charter Oak
Street, Conductors were stationed at both ends of the trolley. When the
trolley reached the end of the line the conductor at the opposite end took
over the duties of driving. (See the photo below) Main Street had not been paved in these days, as we look at the corner of Maple Street beyond the dump truck. I've always had this curiosity about the tracks. Uncle Tom Tedford, a conductor located them in my mind for me. Recently when Main was resurfaced I made a special trip to town to see the exposed track and to claim a spike, for a souvenir. John Knoll photo |
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The Eldridge Homestead
was situated just south of Maple on Main Street. The 9th
District fire destroyed the South Manchester Public Library. The
books were rescued and were then housed in the Eldridge House, a
three story Victorian mansion. Plans were made to build a new
library in Education Square, now part of the Bennet Middle School
complex but later abandoned because the location was too far removed
from the center of population.
A bank currently occupies the land where the Eldridge Homestead once stood. John Knoll photo |
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Shriners in
parade. The procession passes the Eldridge Homestead
and the New York Market. Today the building that housed the New York
Market is owned by the Guinipero family. The Eldridge homestead once
served as the town library after the Ninth District School and
Library fire in 1913. The books were rescued from the Ninth District
School Library as the fire raged. Miss Eldridge allowed the library
to occupy the lower two floors of her lovely mansion while she lived
on the third level. The building seen in the upper left is located
on the north corner of Maple Street. John Knoll photo
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The Hotel Sheridan as it appeared in 1943. The parking lot to the right borders Pearl Street. The first floor door on the right led to the 2nd and 3rd floor rooms. The office entrance is the next set of doors to the left. Shops occupied the remainder of the lower level. The hotel would convert to apartments shortly after 1943. The entire complex was destroyed by fire some time later. | ||||
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The State
Theatre (circa 1957) once occupied a prominent place along Main Street. And across
the street, under the long white awning, the F.W. Woolworth Store was
located. This Woolworths' featured a luncheonette counter. The State
Theatre
was built in 1924 as a movie theater.
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A visit to Main
Street would not be complete without Marlow's Department Store being
represented. This recent photo was taken in the spring of 2003 just days
after George Marlow made known his intentions to close his family business.
Marlow's had a unique personality, if a store can have such a thing.
This building Marlow's occupied originally was the Orford Hotel. Dick Jenkins photo |
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The Orford
Hotel originally occupied this Main Street landmark back in 1894. It
featured a two-story amusement hall along with a banquet hall that seated
200. On August 1st of this year, 2007, this structure will celebrate its
113th birthday. In the 1920's Quinn's Pharmacy and Manchester Plumbing &
Supply occupied the ground floor businesses.
The Marlow family would buy this building in 1924, moving from the one story brick structure on the north side of Brainard Place, now a bike shop. Dick Jenkins photo |
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The Salvation
Army was founded in Manchester in 1886. Their first structure was erected on
the plot of land now occupied by Nathan Hale School on Spruce Street. In
1906 their congregation numbered 135. The citadel shown here was erected in
1908 and has been considered an architectural treasure by the town. Several
years ago the "Army" felt a need to build a new structure, a more modern
structure that would better serve the needs of today's community. The
thought of losing this landmark became a concern of many and after due
deliberation it was decided to retain the Citadel and build a modern
extension to the south.
My grandparents, Mark and Mary Tedford-Arnold were married here on August 5, 1908, and their wedding invitation was recently recovered from within the cornerstone. Dick Jenkins photo |
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The Salvation
Army Citadel - March 2003. The 1908 corps building now includes a fellowship hall, classrooms, offices, and an elevator. The brick addition, which blends with the old citadel, includes the chapel, classrooms, a music room, and a nursery. Dick Jenkins photo |
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How many can
recall the train station that once stood at Bolton Notch? The station was
situated between the Bolton Notch Pond and Squaw's Cave. We are currently
looking for more information on this structure, when it was torn down, etc. The young ladies awaiting the train are Mildred England, Anna Scheibenpflug Grimason, and Ester Sturgeon. (l to r) John Knoll was known for setting up a picture using a cast of his friends. As you look through John's pictures this will become apparent. The Bolton station as well as several others around town quickly faded away with the coming of the automobile. John Knoll photo |
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The price you
paid for wearing skates: Didn't you hate that, when the layers of leather
sole of your shoe began separating, but managed to stay sewn together clear
back by your heel. As you walked along that shoe would flap, or you wouldn't
pick your foot up high enough to allow for the curled under layer of sole to
clear the ground, and you'd stumble. Skating was fun, all you needed
was a skate key to draw in the clips near the toe of your shoe, a
strong leather strap to go over top of your shoe, and you were flying down
the sidewalk. I can recall wearing corduroy knickers, just like these boys
are wearing; gosh, were we dapper! We didn't need to wear special attire
like XXXL pants and shirts, and be burdened down with layers of silver
chains much like the modern skateboarder. Life was simpler then. John Knoll photo |
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Armando Pesce sits behind the wheel while his brother stands along side the truck. Armando immigrated to America from Italy at the age of 19 in 1911. Being that work was difficult to secure in New York he moved to Manchester knowing Cheney Brothers Silk Mills was hiring a good many immigrants. Armando met and married a girl while in New York. They would eventually buy a farm in Coventry and remain there until their later years when they would make their home in Manchester. John Knoll photo |
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Mary's Soda Shoppe, 1073
Main Street Photo appears through the courtesy of the Manchester Historical Society. Caption by Susan Barlow. |
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The Guinipero sisters, Mary on the right and
Frances.
* Note: Historical
information drawn from: A New England Pattern The
History of Manchester, Connecticut by Dr. William E.
Buckley, pages 103-104 and page 147.
Photo captions
provided by Susan Barlow of the Manchester Historical Society.
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Bennet Middle School once known as
Barnard Junior High School with its Educational Square in the
foreground- Eight grade graduation exercises once tool place on this
green. It also served as a playing field for high school girls gym
classes. John Knoll photo New entry |
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Barnard Junior High School now part of the Bennet Middle School complex named after our wonderful principal, Miss Elisabeth Bennet. Kids haven't changed much over the years have they? John Knoll photo |
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