Hartford Public Schools history

In 1869, an imposing brick building was constructed at Asylum Hill just to the west of downtown Hartford.

A manual training building was added, and in 1914 the complex doubled in size with the erection of the Broad Street building where business and industrial courses were given. Its façade on Hopkins Street faced downtown on the east; to the south was the hill where the State Capitol building was erected in 1879.

The street end of the arcade has a clock and a gable surmounted by an owl statue which is a replica of the original 1883 HPHS Owl.

The school building was extended in 1897 and its two steepled towers became a famous landmark.

Before long, a manual training wing was built, and another building was constructed in 1914 for business and industrial courses.

Smith Elementary School was originally called the Seymour School and was first opened in 1915.

In 1924, at the age of 79, Hall laid the cornerstone for Hall High School, the building which is now the West Hartford Town Hall.

Morley Elementary School, originally known as the Fern Street School, was built in 1926.

Webster Hill Elementary School, built in 1949, is named for its location on Webster Hill Boulevard.

Duffy Elementary School, which opened in 1952, was named for Louise Day Duffy, a respected teacher and member of the West Hartford Board of Education.

Whiting Lane Elementary School was built in 1954 to replace East School.

Braeburn Elementary School, opened in 1956, is located on Braeburn Road which runs between Mountain Road and Pleasant Street near Fairview Cemetery and West Hartford Center.

Conard High School, which opened in 1957, was named in honor of Frederick Underwood Conard who was Chairman of the Board of Education when plans for a new high school were first approved.

A new school was built in Forest Street in 1963 in the old Nook Farm literary area, which had been home to the likes of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe.