Torrington Historical Society
192 Main Street, Torrington, CT  (860) 482-8260
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Photographic Collection: John Norton Brooks

Picture
Firehouse (Mutual Fire Co.), Water St, ca 1895 (click to enlarge)
Amateur photographer John Norton Brooks was born in Goshen CT in 1870.
He moved with his family to Torrington in 1874 where his father and uncle established Brooks Brothers Bank.  Before settling into a career in Banking, young J.N. Brooks tried his hand at a number of pursuits including amateur photography.

The bulk of his work was shot using gelatin dry plate negatives. About 300 of these negatives are in the collection of the historical Society.  Negative formats include 4x5, 5x7, and 5x8. 

Most of the negatives were contact printed in 1979 and are available for research.   J.N. Brooks was most interested in landscapes but his collection also includes portraits, pets, and architectural subjects. Of particular
interest is his 1890 lantern slide show

Header Images:
1. Torrington Depot ca 1895
2. J.N. Brooks, self portrait ca.1895
3. Allen House Hotel, Torrington, ca. 1895
4. Glover Mill, Huntington (Shelton) CT ca. 1895
 

*Note - clicking the white dots in the header will pause the slide show


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