Lost Buildings of Hartford Public High School

In Hartford, Connecticut, the old campus of Hartford Public High School, which one stood between Hopkins and Broad Streets, is fondly remembered as a lost treasure of the city's architectural and educational history. In my latest video I talk about this lost landmark, which was destroyed to make way for highway construction in the 1960s. I also discuss the high school's origins and its previous buildings.
It started as the Hartford Grammar School, which started in 1638, but became a true high school in 1847. From then until 1869, it was located at the corner of Asylum and Ann Streets. Its first building on Hopkins Street, built in 1869, burned down in 1882. This was replaced by what would grow into a campus complex consisting of the Hopkins Street building (first phase erected in 1882-1884, second phase in 1897-1898), the Manual Training Building (erected in 1898), and the Broad Street building (first phase erected in 1914-1915, second phase in 1917-1918). The current building on Forest Street opened in 1963.
In this video I use an image from the Connecticut Historical Society, "Horse and sleigh in front of the ruins of Hartford Public High School, Hopkins Street, Hartford."
Accession number 2000.188.26
2824 img0066.pcd
hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:12301
I also use an image taken at the Hartford History Center, Hartford Public Library:
hplct.ent.sirsi.net/client/en...
I also use images from the Loring Collection, Hartford Public High School Museum & Archive:
ctdigitalarchive.org/islandor...
Website of the Hartford Public High School Museum & Archive:
hphs1638.wordpress.com/
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historicbuildingsct.com/
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[@tedgoerner4189]

Excellent! I'm researching an architect (Russell Barker) that I believe attended Hartford High School in the 1890's, which was designed by George Keller, who he later worked for! Barker then designed Sedgwick Middle School where I have been working for 24 years. Very cool. Thanks

[@vshell7673]

HPHS CLASS OF 1983..Great Video 👍

[@gregdolecki8530]

What magnificent structures lost to "progress".

[@joannshupe9333]

I took a typing class in summer school in 1962, so I got to see a tiny bit of the building. My mother and aunts all went there in the 30s and told stories about the buildings, especially the art classes that were in a turret. Even then, there had been so many students in those buildings that the stone stairs were hollowed out like some of the medieval castles in Europe.

[@michaelreilly9069]

What horrific and senseless destruction. There is a special place in hell for the mid-century highway designers who ruined so many American cities.

[@junkandthangs]

Fantastic video Dan, thanks! c/o 1957

[@normansinnock1521]

I attended HPHS in 1981 for one year, and there were pictures throughout the school of the old building and they always made me sad

[@shiningjustice7788]

I graduated from HPHS in 2010. My history teacher taught me about the great history of our school and I knew about the first building being burnt down. I never knew the second building was that amazing looking and eventually destroyed for a highway that the city wants to replace if I’m not mistaken. Thanks for keeping this history alive.

[@johnforester4060]

Wonderful presentation! Growing up in Harford in the 50's and 60's, use to visit a friend of the family who's home was on Hopkins St. I recall when they demolished the school in the 60's. Fortunately, all of the schools I attended in Hartford, except for one are still there, all be a couple of the names have changed. Dwight, Vine St., Burr, Kinsella, Fox (on Washington St. then), Buckley (on Maple Ave.), and Prince Tech. Saint Patrick's, Saint Anthony's Catholic school is sadly gone, although the church is still there. I recall when attending school there having to exit the classroom several times for a few minutes (because of the large windows) while they blasted for I-84.

[@chizzy756]

Class of 2013 HPHS 🤞🏾💯

[@albussnape2]

But where is footage of it in the 1960’s and 70’s? Hope there’ll be some soon. Also of the Burns Elementary School, Noah Webster Middle School, South Catholic High. 🙏proud to be an alum of HPHS, as was my dad during the 1930’s era.

[@richjakowski1056]

Thanks for another outstandingly researched presentation on Hartford architecture. Demolition of the old HPHS has to stand as one of the worst architectural loss catastrophes in Hartford's history...and the lord sure knows there were many! I'm now thinking of another building, similar in design. It stood on Hudson St and I think was originally designed as a grammar school. It eventually was purchased and used by Hillyer College in the 1930-40s and then during the early years of the University of Hartford which I attended in the early 1960s?

[@henryhall8743]

Mr. Qruick the principal in the 50'swas a friend of mlnd the buildings broad and hopkins street. Class of 58. Henry hawk hall.

[@henryhall8743]

Dont forget arsenal school 1800 main street north. Hartford conn. Henry hawk hall.

[@bigdaddysantos]

Thank you for this. I never had the detail, as described here, about the second oldest high school in the country. An added plus is the photo of students exiting appears to have captured an image of my sister (HPHS '61). I am HPHS '73.

[@junkandthangs]

Barnard… who is Brown, which the school was named after?