Bird's Eye View of Willimantic 2 by Tom Beardsley 6-29-2024 |
By Tom Beardsley.) The 1876
view of Willimantic is entitled Bird's Eye View of Willimantic and was
drawn by Howard Heston Bailey and James Compton Hazen. Today’s photo
from that rare lithograph shows the lack of development north of
Prospect Street and the undeveloped land on the west side of town. At
one time, there was a framed copy at the Willimantic Public Library. The
only other know copy is at the Connecticut State Library.Howard Bailey
taught penmanship and worked in a photographic business before drawing
ads showing business premises in cities in Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. He
became a city artist in 1870 when he produced nine lithographs of places
in central and southern Wisconsin. He drew with great speed and in1871
he completed 17 city views. In 1874 he collaborated with 22-year-old
James Compton Hazen. They produced 14 views in 1875, seven in New York,
two in Massachusetts, two in New Hampshire, two in New Jersey and one in
Rhode Island. In 1876 they produced eight city views in New England. The
Willimantic view was one of those. Bailey died in 1878 aged 42. In an
eight-year career he left a record of towns and cities in the Midwest,
the central Atlantic states and New England. He used a high level
perspective, which makes his views instantly recognizable. This style
reveals the patterns of streets, open spaces, public sites and
neighborhoods. Bailey was famous for his careful representations of
industrial and business districts. He gave detailed representation of
the mill and manufacturing complexes, which dominated the urban scene in
industrial communities like Willimantic.James Hazen began work as
artist's assistant to Howard Bailey in 1873, and he handled the business
side of their ventures. He sold subscriptions and delivered completed
lithographs, and often inked Bailey's original pencil drawings. The year
after they collaborated on the Willimantic view, Hazen went to work for
Bailey's younger brother, Oakley Hoopes Bailey for three years, and his
final completed view of Lynn Woods, Lynn, Mass. in 1903 was produced
with O. H. Bailey. Bailey and Hazen's drawing and lithograph of
Willimantic was recorded in the Willimantic Journal of August 18,
1876;"J.C. Hazen and Co of New York have completed an isometric drawing
of this village, showing every street, building and other local
features. The drawing is to be lithographed and when finished will not
only be a complete and accurate map of the village at the present time,
but especially interesting and valuable for reference in years to come.
The sketch is taken in pencil and of course conveys but a faint idea of
the picture when completed as a handsomely tinted lithograph. The
drawing is 20 x 24 inches in size and has been made with great care and
seeming accuracy. A gentleman is now canvassing the village for their
sale and we presume will meet with encouraging success. Messrs. Hazen &
Co have recently finished similar drawings of Lowell, Lawrence, Holyoke,
Manchester and Woonsocket and their work is spoken of by the local press
in flattering terms. The price of the finished lithograph is $3. 00,
which is very reasonable."This view reveals Willimantic just before its
explosive growth, and it is interesting to note the lack of development
on the "Hill District." However, it does reveal the extensive Bridge
Street cotton mills, which predated the American Thread mills, and the
Holland silk mills on Valley and Church Street. It also shows the
original Willimantic railroad station, which was rebuilt several years
later, and the city's extensive rail traffic.
The third view and next in our series will be the 1882 view and
is entitled Willimantic, Conn., 1882. From Blake Mountain, and measures
24 by 32 and 1/4 inches (61.1 by 82 cm.) It was published by the W. O.
Laughna Art Publishing Company in
New York, drawn by Wils Porter and printed by Charles Hart Lithography
of 36 Vesey Street New York. There is a copy at the Connecticut
Historical Society at Hartford and the Windham Textile and History
Museum has a framed copy on exhibit. Charles Hart (1823-1913), the
printer of the 1882 view, was born in London, England. His obituary in
the New York Times stated that he was in the lithography business, "up
to four years ago." Hart was involved in 17 bird's eye views as
lithographer, artist, photographer and printer between 1869 and 1913. A
view of New York was printed by his firm three years after his death.
(to be continued) |
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