February 17, 2023

Remembrance

This Musings from Main comes courtesy of Beverly Titus, a volunteer at the East Windsor Historical Society. For the past few years, Beverly has been working on a research project focused on a piece of East Windsor's history that could have been lost forever. It was not until recently that I came to understand what a herculean task it must have been, and how truly important the result is. This Musing showcases the work that she did and highlights just a few of the interesting and heartbreaking facts that she has brought to light.

If you would like to view the primary source materials used in her research, you can visit Museums on the Green, the home of the East Windsor Historical Society, during their open hours on Saturdays from 9am to 12pm. The book East Windsor, Through the Years by Michael C. DeVito used in her research is available for purchase there as well.

The Hartford County Temporary Home

"Number 36 Gardner Street, Warehouse Point CT," this is how Beverly Titus begins her book Remembrance, a labor of love and extensive research, that honors and gives a voice to just a few of the well over 10,000 children who at one time or another called this address home.

Image of the Home date unknown (DeVito p. 71)

Most of the children that were residents at the Hartford County Home eventually left, either to return to their own families, or to go to the homes of private citizens who took them in, some eventually left when they aged out at eighteen. They were all able, if they wished, to tell their stories. Others, however,  were not as fortunate.

Remembrance focuses on the thirty-three children who passed away between 1893 and 1949 and are buried in Springdale Cemetery in Warehouse Point. Children like Joseph Jordon who was short lived for this world (five years) but who was "a bright agreeable popular boy with all" or sixteen year old James H. Norman, who drowned with his friend Edward Espitee at Lake Waramaug.

For some the of the children such as little four year old Eugene W. Whitford, only a death certificate and headstone are available to tell his story but for others such as Minta Judd, whose plight caught the attention of the media at the time, there is more.

Remembrance includes some information on the dozen or so matrons and superintendents that were in charge of the day to day operations at the Hartford County Home, as well as poignant memories from former residents, visitors and employees. Most importantly what Beverly has done, and done well, is brought together the (very) limited information available about the names on the tombstones in Springdale Cemetery and in the roll books of the Hartford County Home and shined a light on them so that they are not lost to history but remembered.

Beverly has graciously accepted our invitation to come speak about her experiences with this research project. We are currently firming up the details. Keep an eye out for more information on this upcoming program.

Please forward this email to anyone who might be interested.

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