Veterans Memorial Timeline
A timeline of events significant to West Hartford is found along the outer edge of the Walk of Remembrance. A walk through this memorial is a walk through history.
1672
- West Division established by Hartford property owners
1679 - First homesteader arrives: Stephen Hosmer
1710 - West Division population: 164
1712 - First meeting house built on this site
1713 - First Church of Christ Congregational organized
1716 - First cemetery established
1758 - Noah Webster born
1776 - July 4: Declaration of Independence
1778 - Revolutionary War Hospital Camp established near Talcott Mountain
1789 - United States Constitution adopted
1791 - Bill of Rights adopted
1820 - First Post Office opens in Goodman’s Tavern at Bishops Corner
1850 - West Division population: 1,202
1854 - West Hartford incorporates as a Town
1860 - West Hartford population: 1,296
1863 - Emancipation Proclamation
1867 - Reservoir on Farmington Avenue opens
1870 - XV Amendment: Race no bar to voting rights
1872 - First West Hartford high school opens
1879 - First Independent Fire Company formed: Fountain Hose Company
1880 - West Hartford population: 1,828
1882 - Free Public Library opens
1900 - West Hartford population: 3,186
1911 - First Scout Troop organized
1919 - First
Town Manager appointed
1919 - First Police Department organized
1920 - XIX Amendment: Voting rights extended to women
1920 - West Hartford population: 8,854
1921 - First Town Council elected
1926 - First bank opens: West Hartford Trust Company
1931 - First park opens: Fernridge Park
1940 - West Hartford population: 33,776
1941 - December 7th: Pearl Harbor attacked; Gordon H. Sterling killed
1945 - United Nations established
1960 - West Hartford population: 62,382
1971 - XXVI Amendment: Voting age lowered to 18
1980 - West Hartford population: 61,301
2000 - West Hartford population: 61,046
2001 - September 11th: Terrorists attack America
2006 - May 21, 2006: Dedication Day of Connecticut Veterans Memorial
