Town of Manchester Town Hall history

First known as Five Mile Track, and later as Orford, or Charlotte, it was settled in 1672 and incorporated from part of East Hartford in 1823.

The world’s first ax factory was founded in Collinsville in 1826.

The Pitkin Glass Works manufactured bottles, flasks, and inkwells until about 1830.

Subsequently, the Pitkin Glass Works, cotton mills, and especially silk mills (established in 1838 by the Cheney brothers) became important to the town’s economy, along with the manufacture of grandfather clocks, soap, farm implements, and carriages.

A railroad line linking Manchester to Hartford was completed in 1849, making Depot Square a hub of commercial activity.

The first Catholic Church in town, St Bridget's, was built in 1858 to serve this new population.

Manchester Town Hall (1868-77) in Albert Square is one of the most iconic landmarks in the city.

Built into one of the angle turrets of the 280ft tower is a 173-step staircase leading to the bell chamber and the clock, with its Polish glass face and 10ft-long minute hand.. The clock mechanism was made by Gillet and Bland, and was started on New Year's Day 1879.

Cheneys' corporate generosity included the cost of construction of "Educational Square" (now occupied by the Bennet Academy for sixth graders) and also the first public high school, built in 1904 (now the Bennet Apartments) at the south end of Main Street.

The town was governed in the old New England tradition of "town meeting" until 1907, when the town adopted a new charter, creating a more efficient method of governing, with a Board of Selectmen charged with the responsibility of running the town.

MANCHESTER CELEBRATED ITS CENTENNIAL in 1923 with a huge parade and weeks of special activities.

Established in May 1666 and named for Hertford, England, the county government was abolished on October 1, 1960.

Manchester Community-Technical College was opened in 1963.