Torrington, CT – While doing research in an online database, a volunteer from the Torrington Historical Society discovered over 250 unknown photographs showing Torrington during the early 1900’s.
| Never before seen pictures from the construction of Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, the installation of the D.A.R. fountain in Center Square (later moved to City Hall), and the construction of Hillside Cemetery are amongst the photos found. “I was looking through records while researching Olmsted’s involvement with Hillside Cemetery (in Torrington) and was directed by a staffer at the (Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline, MA) archive to look at a different online database which was more complete than others I looked at“ said volunteer Edward Cannata. | |
Olmsted Brothers were involved with over 20 projects in Torrington – all referenced in the database. It was here Cannata discovered nine of the jobs had references to photo albums. Other items referenced were design drawings, topography maps, correspondence and anything else the firm felt important enough to include with files from each job.
“Sometimes you find something in the most obscure places. Who would ever think there would be hundreds of Torrington photos in the archive of a landscape architect… especially in one who is world famous? I think what is most interesting about these photographs is that they are taken from angles and views different than most of the pictures you come across from the turn of the century” said Cannata.
All nine photo albums were scanned with files sent to the Historical Society for its digital collection.
Mark McEachern, Executive Director of the Torrington Historical Society, was not aware Olmsted Brothers worked so extensively in Torrington. McEachern said, “This discovery is an important one for Torrington history. The photographs greatly increase our understanding of Torrington in the early 20th century when the town, civic groups and private citizens were hiring world-class landscape architects to beautify the community.”
When Frederick Law Olmsted retired in 1895, he handed the business to his sons, John Charles and Frederick Jr., who renamed the firm Olmsted Brothers. The firm lasted until 1980.
“Sometimes you find something in the most obscure places. Who would ever think there would be hundreds of Torrington photos in the archive of a landscape architect… especially in one who is world famous? I think what is most interesting about these photographs is that they are taken from angles and views different than most of the pictures you come across from the turn of the century” said Cannata.
All nine photo albums were scanned with files sent to the Historical Society for its digital collection.
Mark McEachern, Executive Director of the Torrington Historical Society, was not aware Olmsted Brothers worked so extensively in Torrington. McEachern said, “This discovery is an important one for Torrington history. The photographs greatly increase our understanding of Torrington in the early 20th century when the town, civic groups and private citizens were hiring world-class landscape architects to beautify the community.”
When Frederick Law Olmsted retired in 1895, he handed the business to his sons, John Charles and Frederick Jr., who renamed the firm Olmsted Brothers. The firm lasted until 1980.
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