Newsletter | July 13, 2023

Trivia question

This mural depicting the late Carrie Saxon Perry, Hartford’s mayor from 1987 to 1993 and the first African-American mayor of a major New England city, recently went up on the side of a city school. Name the school.

For the answer, scroll to the end of the newsletter.

For historic Star Hardware, flooding became too much

Star Hardware has been around for more than a century. In 1928, it became a fixture of the East End, operating at the corner of Front and Talcott streets. In 1960, as redevelopment upended the neighborhood, it moved to the North End, at 2995 Main Street. The day-to-day business of serving walk-in customers continued until this Fourth of July, when flooding—a problem in that neighborhood—left about five inches of standing water. Max Kothari, owner since 1989, tells Connecticut Public Radio he’s had enough: he will reduce the store’s operations to bulk services, such as appliance sales.

On anniversary, Circus Fire survivors honor the victims

Last Thursday was the 79^th anniversary of the Hartford Circus Fire, and among those marking the occasion at the North End site of the city’s deadliest-ever disaster were a pair of survivors, who told their stories to CT Insider. An estimated 7,000 people were under the “big top” when the canvas of the tent—soaked in paraffin wax and gasoline to make it waterproof—ignited and rapidly burned, killing 168 and injuring about 700.

Library aiming for 2024 re-opening

Hartford Public Library Director Bridget Quinn tells CT Insider that the spring or summer of 2024 is the target for re-opening HPL’s downtown branch, closed since a roof pipe burst on Christmas Eve and sent thousands of gallons of water throughout the building, including the Hartford History Center on the third floor. Despite damage to computers and other equipment, the Center’s historical materials went largely undamaged, according to officials. A satellite of the Center has since opened at the SAND/Ropkins branch at 1750 Main Street, and the Center’s online services continue.

Trivia question answer

The mural appears on the side of the SAND School at 1750 Main Street. The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving funded the mural as part of its Love Your Block grants program.