Armsmear: Samuel Colt's Estate in Hartford, Connecticut

This video is about Armsmear, the estate of Samuel Colt in Hartford, Connecticut. The mansion survives today but the landscape, which once included picturesque ponds, statuary and an extensive complex of greenhouses, has been replaced with athletic facilities and a lawn.
Some related links:
Coltsville National Historical park: www.nps.gov/colt/index.htm
Colt Park Foundation: coltpark.org/
Armsmear (1866) by Henry Barnard: www.google.com/books/edition/...
The Homes of America VII: Armsmear, from The Art Journal (1876): archive.org/details/jstor-205...
An image of the Colt residence grounds in this video is from the collections of the Connecticut Historical Society: hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:19300
Some of the images used in this video are from the Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company Collection (PG 460) at the Connecticut State Library:
Armsmear archway: hdl.handle.net/11134/30002:720...
Armsmear mansion: hdl.handle.net/11134/30002:720...
Colt Armory ruins: hdl.handle.net/11134/30002:720...
Some of the images in this video are from the collections of the Hartford History Center at the Hartford Public Library:
View in Colt's Park: hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:5428
View in Colt's Park: hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:5427
Statue of Hebe, Colt Park, Hartford (1921): hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:3725
Statue of Apollo, Colt Park, Hartford (1921): hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:3724
Statue of Diana, Colt Park, Hartford (1921): hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:3728
Statue of goats, Colt Park, Hartford (1921): hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:3722
Lattice-work pavilion, Colt Park, Hartford (1921): hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:3720
Gardeners building, Colt Park, Hartford (1921): hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:3718
Greenhouses, Colt Park, Hartford (1921): hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:3715
School Gardens at Colt Park: hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:14566
School Gardens at Colt Park: hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:14567
School Gardens at Colt Park: hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:14565
Twelve horses in a line (Colt Park), Hartford, December 18, 1920: hdl.handle.net/11134/50002:3654
Some of the images in this video are from the Detroit Publishing Company Collection at the Library of Congress:
Colt’s Armory: www.loc.gov/item/2016804525/
Residence of Mrs. Samuel Colt: www.loc.gov/item/2016806353/
Colt Park: www.loc.gov/item/2016795053/
Colt Memorial and lake at Colt Park: www.loc.gov/item/2016809785/
Colt Memorial: www.loc.gov/item/2016806354/
Some of the images in this video are from the Digital Collections of the New York Public Library:
View at Armsmear, residence of Mrs. Samuel Colt: digitalcollections.nypl.org/i...
View at Armsmear, residence of Mrs. Samuel Colt: digitalcollections.nypl.org/i...
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[@saraseagrave1834]

Thanks for this Dan, very informative and well done! I used to live in the worker's housing and have always been fascinated by the history of Coltsville. I was just at Colt park the other day noticing that the Gardener's Cottage and the Carriage House behind Armsmear are in such poor condition. I know the City Parks and Rec Dept owns those buildings now but I truly hope they are planning and able to preserve those structures and make them into usable space again soon- before we lose any more of this lovely Estate. It's truly a shame how much was already altered or lost over time. Ponds, gazebos, greenhouses and gardens would be amazing in Colt Park and on the Armsmear Estate again.

[@historywithdansterner263]

Maybe there is a better chance to preserve them now because of the creation of Coltsville as a national park. I hope so!

[@joane.landers9151]

Over 50+ years ago when I lived in Hartford, I drove thru part of Colt's Park but did not know the history of it. Thank you very much for your research and the history of this area. I find it interesting that part of the park was used by schoolchildren for gardens many, many years before Buckley High School had, for several years 1970's to 1980's (?), a Vocational Agriculture program. I remember driving past the high school on Wethersfield Ave , and seeing a building on the North side/end of the school with a cow, ewe, and hen within a fenced area on the South side of the Vo-Ag building. I thought it was wonderful that the Hartford educational system would try this. Also, any students who hqd any interest in all things agricultural/horticultural then did not have to travel to Vernon or any of the other regional Connecticut high schools who offer these programs.

[@johnfoster535]

...a reminder of what once was a symbol of Hartford's glorious past....a place that held culture and beauty. The original buildings and landscape were breathtaking.....all the 'alterations" up to the present are just an ignorant desecration....symbolic of the decline and decay of Hartford....and many OTHER American cities, as well. I had no idea of how truly beautiful these buildings and grounds were, and how fortunate Hartford was to have had Samuel Colt. There certainly is no one like him in Hartford NOW, and there probably will never be again...

[@xtbum3339]

Hartford was a world-class city back in the 19th century.

[@vshell7673]

My Neighborhood. I lived 3 houses 🏘 from Colt Park. Great Video.

[@historywithdansterner263]

Thanks for watching!

[@TheJojo01902]

This was particularly interesting. Thank you, Dan! As a footnote, after watching a number of other videos covering the histories of the mansions of the ultra rich in previous eras, it’s nice to see that the Colt Mansion lent itself well to modification and adaption to new use, which is a far better fate than other mansions of the wealthy torn down a few decades after the deaths of their builders.

[@historywithdansterner263]

The interior may be changed but at least the house is still standing!

[@user-po8ke5vh2e]

@@historywithdansterner263 while i was watching multiple documentaries - about pistols. and ofc colt - i was surprised how he haveing 0 knowledge and just come to conclusion that he have to make a pistol and all that stuff that he was involved in, electric cabels. fords lines. buildings n shit, like literally he have worked so hard his days - managed to make all that stuff. and all his friends and employees become also big names......this shit is so connected - b coz its a al the same small circle of people, like now days. need more info ) and that aka russian top - mansion, and church.....damn,.....all lies.....XD

[@user-po8ke5vh2e]

@@historywithdansterner263 before i finished the video i was like - i know 1 russian tzar that have the same mysterious power to do everything great since he was born - its a piter the great - all his biografi and dids r lies and he also was sailor....and learn everything on the fly LOL even that young colt sculpture is similar to russian, and colt was in russia....and he met a tzar....not the piter coz he died in end of 1700s the connection is nice)

[@marychiapputo5162]

THANKS SO MUCH DAN ! My family came to Hartford from Sepino Italy in 1894 and 1896 and my father was born on Charles St in 1897 so Hartford 's history is very interesting to me.

[@historywithdansterner263]

Thank you for watching!

[@DannyPimienta]

My mom used to live at the Colt mansion. Man, that place gave me the c-r-e-e-p-s everytime I came to visit.

[@ezinafauda4394]

Thanks so much for this video. I always wanted to learn more about that.

[@peterdwyer6689]

Thank you for this wonderful presentation. I have viewed many of these buildings and wondered if they were once part of the Colt estate. Now I know thanks to your research . Hopefully some of your Hartford History videos can be used in The Hartford school system for children to see how Hartford has changed yet retained some of it’s historic places.

[@annegoshdigian5686]

Nice job, Dan. Thanks!

[@andrejordan3775]

Dan the man! Awesome I live minutes away from Park

[@carolem9134]

Greatly done. Thank you for sharing this information.😊

[@adamseay4827]

Thank u for sharing, drive by that area everyday. If not mistaken a portion colt park was converted to dutch point and today has been revitalized into new housing

[@jackd8602]

Another wonderful piece of work from a masterful historian and story teller. Thanks again Dan!!

[@historywithdansterner263]

Thank you very much!

[@cabdaly]

so very similar to a friend's family in Louisiana

[@mikegruber172]

Another A+ effort ! For some reason hearing Coltsville made me think of Pottersville ( Until I googled it ). Coltsville was much nicer

[@alexarobinson2850]

I love your videos! I do have one wish for them. The old map is super cool, but it would be nice if you also showed a modern map of Hartford near the beginning and highlighted the region you’re discussing on a today map to compare.

[@michaelzachmamn8890]

I love your series Dan. I watch every one that you send out. lived in various towns all around Hartford and I love our capital city. I f you're looking for ideas, the railyards in the north end would be a good subject. thanks for all that you do.

[@darrellsullivan6529]

Great job, I used to live in the Colt building.

[@junkandthangs]

Thanks Dan… I truly appreciate this one!

[@marcouellette3417]

Incredible history thank you

[@AidenSexsmith]

The birds eye view of Colts Armory is interesting. I know the railroad is under 91, but it showed two branches. As a train buff, and a history buff, i love to see old history. Is the armory used for housing?

[@historywithdansterner263]

I think part of it at least is used for housing. They may be putting the eventual National Park visitor center in there too.

[@masescranton9630]

These are very bitter sweet videos. The loss of one of Americas oldest once wealthy cities to an office park surrounded by ghettos. In one of the wealthiest states aside from New Haven all our big cities are a mess of decay lost architecture , intrusive highways and ugly modern crap. At least New Haven with its intrusive highways and swaths of lost buildings have beautiful commercial blocks. Wealthy neighborhoods with blocks of mansions, Yale University and surviving Victorian neighborhoods even with all the plastic siding.

[@Hadd13]

Another great video Dan

[@CardiffGiant]

interesting video and series. i especially like how you integrate the historic views with present views in this video. i read one of your books and enjoyed it but had trouble figuring out exactly where i was looking sometimes but once i figured it out was very cool to see (such as the 6 central row building)

[@alexanderthomas7753]

This is an awesome video.

[@billvolovski2440]

Any idea what happened to some of the other statuary and decorative ornaments from the lawns and grounds? Also, I understand that the building is private, but are there any photos out there of the interior of the residence?

[@historywithdansterner263]

I was told they don't allow photographs inside. Here's an older photo of what I think is the library: landmarkhunter.com/146243-armsmear/

[@junkandthangs]

When was Stonington Street made/paved 🤔

[@historywithdansterner263]

Seems like Stonington Street was laid out around 1920 (it does not appear in the 1917 atlas, but it is on the 1920 atlas). As for paving, I found a Hartford Courant article from September 24, 1929 headlined: "Stonington Street Paving Authorized By Board." The cost of the project was estimated at $3500. Also, "Macadam will be used on the throughfare, and the job calls for what is known as secondary pavement."

[@junkandthangs]

@@historywithdansterner263 Dan you’re amazing… I’d like to meet you one day! Thanks for the updated info

[@williamcoleman289]

What happened to all the statues and other objects?

[@historywithdansterner263]

I don't know what happened to them. I wonder if the City of Hartford still has them!