2013 Spring Newsletter Text
The Chronicler
Spring Edition 2013
The Hartland Historical Society’s mission is to discover, procure and preserve whatever historical facts may be available relating to the civil, military, literary, cultural, and ecclesiastical history of the town of Hartland; and to investigate and preserve such traditions and knowledge as now exist only in the memory of persons. The Society will be responsible for sponsoring and exhibiting the collection of historical articles, pictures and other items relating to the town.
Officers
President-Joanne Groth
Vice President– Pat Davis
Secretary-Mandy Nurge
Treasurer-Bud Groth
Curator-Joanne Groth
Librarian-Grace Jones
Directors
Therese Gundersen
Louise Hayes
Tim Kendrick
Hubie Parmelee
George Ryan
MEMBERSHIP MEETING & PRESENTATION
Friday, May 17, 7 p.m.
Family/personal military stories from Hartland residents
Civil War, WWII, Korean War…some artifacts too
Light refreshments offered after business meeting and presentation
This year’s exhibit at the Gaylord House museum is dedicated to honor our Hartland residents who served in the military – past and present. Displayed are 20+ uniforms along with stories, pictures, artifacts and documents from various times from 1863-2000. Interestingly, all those on exhibit served our country in different capacities. No two are alike except the Berg family as generational Chaplains. We believe there are currently over 100 veterans who are residents of Hartland. For their service protecting the American Dream, we thank them.
Visit the Gaylord House, open 1st Sunday of each month May-October, 2-4 p.m.
Or come to our Blueberry Picnic, Sunday, August 11th
Check out our developing website—hartlandhistoricalsociety.com
Uniform on exhibit
George F. Goetz, Jr. (1927-2010) U.S. Army 1945-1946 Finance Clerk/Guard Patrolman
A Hartland Family Story by Donald Goetz
The Goetz family has had a long association with Connecticut and the Town of Hartland. It started in the 19th century when Karl Götz, grandfather of George F. Goetz, immigrated to The United States at the age of 16. He arrived in New York City on March 20, 1871 aboard the S.S. Donau out of Bremen. He settled in Stamford, CT and became an American citizen on Oct 28, 1876 by taking the oath of allegiance to The United States at the Court of Common Pleas in Stamford, CT.
For some reason, he returned about 1878 to Germany. Germany was now a united nation-state and empire, on its way to becoming a powerful nation with Kaiser Wilhelm I as its first emperor. When Karl left Bavaria in 1871, it was still an independent kingdom allied with Prussia in a war against France. The Franco-Prussian War ended soon after Karl arrived in the United States. These political events in Europe may have had a bearing on his decision to return to his native town of Aura an der Saale, where he remained for 13 years. Today Aura is a village of 888 people in the municipality of Bad Kissengen in northern Bavaria. Another story handed down over the years would have Karl the son of the village miller. Thus, he probably returned to Aura and was able to work in his father's mill. At any rate, he returned to the United States on the ship, Werkendam, out of Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on August 6, 1891.
But by now he had fathered six children with his wife, Barbra (Moritz) and all came to America with him. Legend in the Goetz family has it that Barbra was the “burgermeister's” daughter in Aura. The family settled in the Waterside section of Stamford, familiar ground for Karl. One of Karl's sons, Christian Theodore, became chauffeur for the Mortimer Foster family. It was, perhaps through these connections, that the Goetz family came to Hartland. The Foster family had a farm in Hartland (see Ransom painting article), and Karl Götz was engaged to run it for the Foster family. Sometime before 1911 all the Goetz family moved to Hartland and took up residence in the home at the corner of West Road and Route 20 in West Hartland.
Eventually the Goetz family bought their own farm on land today owned by the Bedard family, located on Route 20 as one is leaving West Hartland for East Hartland. This property was in the Goetz family until Patrick Goetz, youngest son of Karl and Barbra, died in 1996. Here Barbra and, eventually 12 children lived and ran the farm. Barbra never did learn English well and George had to speak a pidgin German with her until she died in 1949. Her husband Karl died on August 6, 1912; this being exactly 21 years after his return to The United States. He was the first Goetz to be buried in the West Hartland Cemetery.
Another interesting story, and one that throws researchers off, is the spelling of Goetz. Apparently it was “Anglicized” sometime after Karl's arrival in America. The name in German is pronounced “Gertz” and the silent “o” in the Anglicized version has thrown people off continually. George's mother, Helen (Cooper) Goetz used to become very agitated when people pronounced it “Goats” or “Gooch”. Nowadays people think it is Hispanic in origin and tend to pronounce it “Gotez”.
When Barbra Goetz returned to Germany in 1914, she was trapped there when WWI broke out. Her name even appeared in a New York Times article dated August 6, 1914 (there is that date again!) saying she was one of numerous American “refugees” trapped in Germany. However, her return to The United States is documented on the www.ellisislandrecords.org website as occurring on September 21, 1914 aboard the ship Principello out of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. This was only discovered by researching the original spelling of Barbra Goetz – Barbra Götz. The ship was later sunk by a German submarine in 1917 during WWI.
The 12 children of Karl and Barbra Goetz would eventually go off to work around the country. Theodore became a chauffeur for such Hollywood actors as William Powell and Carole Lombard. Daughter Emma married the managing editor of The Stamford Advocate. Patrick became a builder of homes on the island of St. Maartin in the Caribbean,Westport, CT and Hartland itself. Adolf ran a gas station and the post office in Pine Meadow, CT. Fred and Anna taught school in the one room school house on Mill Street before going off in different directions.
George Goetz Sr, third child of Karl & Barbra and born in Germany, at first lived on the farm, but also in Westport and Stamford. In 1926 he married Helen Cooper of Winsted and George Goetz Jr., their only child, was born February 10, 1927 in Hartford. The Goetz family lived in Stamford for a number of years where George Sr. worked as a carpenter. They purchased a home there, but this was lost due to foreclosure. This was a common occurrence during the Great Depression and is something not even mentioned in history texts today. It happened and you just kept going the best you could. It was never spoken of in the family and this story only came to light a year or two before the death of George Goetz Jr. As a result, this branch of the Goetz family moved permanently to Hartland. Here they purchased, for $100, four acres of land just off Route 20 in West Hartland, now 170 Center St. George Goetz Sr. built a home on the property beginning in 1936.
Here George Goetz Jr. grew up, attended Center School and became best friends with Leonard Ransom who lived just down the street. George Jr. would help his grandmother out on the farm, a half mile up the road, making sure the fire box was always full of wood. George Jr. was one of two Hartland children to attend The Gilbert School in Winsted, CT. He graduated from there in 1944 and then spent four months at the University of New Hampshire where he studied engineering and military science.
George was enrolled in the Army Specialized Training Program at the university. The ASTP was established by the United States Army in 1942 to identify, train and educate academically-talented enlisted men as a specialized Corp of Army officers during World War II. The program ended in 1944, but apparently not before George was accepted into the program while in his final year of high school.
Helen Goetz kept diaries of her years living in Hartland and she wrote this entry on July 4, 1944 concerning the departure of her only son from home and off to an unknown future as World War II was still raging around the globe: “Seventeen and alone in a strange and crowded city for the night; going forward to a strange new destination which will certainly change the course of his life, and may in the end obliterate that life itself. Life is action and passion. I think it is required of a man that he share the action and passion of his time at peril of being judged not to have lived. Grand words are cold comfort tonight. God be with my baby tonight, wherever he is; snug in a comfortable hotel room or struggling to keep awake in Boston's great North Station – tonight and always. There are no atheists in fox holes. True, and true, too that there is no atheism in mothers' hearts when their sons start out to war... This will be a long and bitter night.” However, he would later say he hated his time in New Hampshire and he left the school to return to Hartland, still wanting to serve his country in its time of war.
George F. Goetz Jr. entered into active duty with the US Army on April 13, 1945. He did his basic training at Ft. Devens, MA. Within a month and a half his rank rose to Corporal and he was assigned to the 1325th Service Command Unit at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation in Pennsylvania. There he served as a finance clerk and also as a guard-patrolman, as Indiantown Gap had German prisoners of war confined there. Cpl. Goetz could speak some German due to his grandmother and he had also studied German in high school, so this seems like it was a good fit. World War II ended with the Japanese surrender in August, 1945. George never saw combat, and he always credited President Harry S. Truman for having ended the war quickly when he ordered the two atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This prevented his unit from being shipped overseas for an invasion of the main island of the Japanese homeland. Casualties from such an invasion were estimated, at the time, to have possibly reached into the hundreds of thousands. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army on October 29, 1946 at Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland.
George F. Goetz Jr. returned to Hartland after his term of service, married Drusilla Stewart of New Hartford, and raised two children. Before moving to Winsted permanently in 1956, he served on the local Boards of Selectmen and Education. He was a member of the West Hartland Volunteer Fire Department and always enjoyed getting together with the Hartland “boys” at the annual clambakes and parades. He was very proud when two of his grandchildren, Michael Goetz & Drusilla Goetz, enlisted in the US Army and served in the wartime theaters of Iraq and Afghanistan.
George F. Goetz died on May 9, 2010 at the age of 83. He is buried in the West Hartland Cemetery next to his wife, young son, four generations of the Goetz family and among his Hartland friends of days now past.
Signs of the Times – Hometown Pride
“In your own life it’s important to know how spectacular you are.” (Steve Maraboli, inspirational speaker and author)
There’s no doubt that life in Hartland was changing in the late 1930s into the 1940s. By 1937 the Metropolitan District Commission had acquired much of the land to be used for the reservoir. Hartland Hollow families had been moving to the east or west mountain or out of Hartland. The town population, which at its highest count was 1,318 residents in 1800, had been steadily dropping to 448 residents in 1920 and 296 in 1930; then began to show signs of growth with 300 residents in 1940. It was a beginning!
The signs posted in these photographs and the fact that these signs were so noteworthy that someone would take a photograph represents a great sense of hometown pride amidst the changing times. Hartland is “our beloved town” as Stanley A Ransom writes in the Dedication of his History of Hartland.
Other locations in Hartland with noteworthy elevations are: Pell Hill which at several locations reaches higher than 1,300 feet, Morrison Hill by the lookout on Route 20 is 1,202 feet (1,214 by Mountain Zone.com), Center Hill which reaches 1,289 feet, Booth Hill located next to the home of Maryann and Sean Burke is 1,348 feet and according to several sources, South Johnson Hill or “Hartland Hill” just north of Hartland Pond reaches a height of 1,421 feet.
A telltale sign of the times and another nod to hometown pride
Jack Barber in his uniform in this 1943 photo with his future wife, Ruth Simmons, who wears his hat, was home for a few days break in Hartland before being shipped out. He remembers the welcome to East Hartland sign. The East Hartland elevation sign was replaced by the “Thickly Settled” sign in the same location. Ruth and Jack stand with their bikes by an unusual sign. Even today the sign “Thickly Settled” would seem out of place in Hartland.
The photo was taken on Route 20 at the top of Mountain Road looking toward the center of town. Ann Parmelee’s house is seen over Jack’s right shoulder. Notice the bare landscape. Al Lilliendahl believes he may have taken this photo of his good friend, Jack Barber, who he calls “Johnny.” Al still carries a medallion on his key chain with Jack Barber’s initials that he received when he was in Jack and Ruth’s wedding.
Of all locations of Hartland, this could possibly be one of the only to deserve the “thickly settled” designation in 1943. Of the 20 buildings located on Route 20 between Mountain Road and the center of town today, 15 of them were already built by 1943. Of those, six had been built within five years of this photo. What a construction boom!
By 1940 the MDC had completed the reservoir. The 1940 census of Hartland counted 300 residents but by 1950 the population would grow to 549. That’s more than 80% growth in only ten years! New homes were built and travel in and around Hartland changed. This part of Route 20 leading into East Hartland center remained unchanged by the reservoir. The northern part of Route 20 beginning at the center of East Hartland was re-routed to the north to avoid the reservoir. Walnut Hill Road was the previous location of Route 20 as it descended in Hartland Hollow.
The photo was donated to Hartland Historical Society by Lisa J. Einarsen on October 12. 2012.
Al shared another story of hometown pride. He, Peder Pedersen and Bob Pedersen did some traveling as teenagers. One trip was to the Florida Keys. They left their mark by bringing a state highway sign with them that read, “East Hartland.” They nailed it to a tree pointed in the correct northerly direction and added an arrow and “1200 miles” to direct travelers to their hometown.
Fall Antique Road Show Meeting a Hit
A note form Bev Wheeler:
“My daughter Brenda and I very much enjoyed the Antique Day yesterday and thanks to Hartland Historical Society for hosting the event. Great job! I already know that Bret Watson and his dad Bill are very knowledgeable with antiques, but Dan Benjamin from Southington was absolutely wonderful also. I'm not into quilts at all but thanks to Betsy Henebry and her friend Lucille Ladden who knew so much about quilts. We have to do this again next year because I definitely have more antiques to bring & so does Brenda. Thanks again! “
Santa Breakfast, Pat Davis Committee Chair remarks after event
“Now that I've awakened from my nap, I want to take a moment to thank everyone for another GREAT effort in making our Santa Breakfast a success once again! Of course, I say that without seeing the official figures from our treasurer, Bud Groth! But seeing all the smiling faces & the firehouse brimming with Christmas spirit makes me know in my heart that it was a success. I always receive so many positive comments about what a wonderful small town tradition it is and how so many look forward to it.”
“We had PHENOMENAL crews at every stage of the event - those who came to set up on Friday (we were done in record time thanks to so many willing & efficient hands); those who arrived early today and stayed to the end; and those who came to clean up to give the rest of us a reprieve. We also had a great group of kids serving as waiters & waitresses this year. I noticed a nice spirit of cooperation as they helped each other without being asked.”
The Chief Elf for the day, would like to send out a VERY special thank you to all the incredible help from the Hartland School students who brought great spirit and teamwork. Thank you also to Santa Claus himself for making a stop. And we can’t forget the East Hartland Fire Department for allowing us to again use the firehouse to host this fantastic yearly event.
Letter from Janet Machol recalling Camp Alice Merritt Day
August 2012
Dear Hartland Historical Society Executive Board Members,
Thank you so very much for the unexpectedly pleasant surprise I received in the mail a couple of days ago. The replica of Kip Hall at Camp Alice Merritt designed by Karen Delton immediately put a smile on my face and rekindled wonderful memories of my own personal experiences both inside and outside of this building as a camper in the late 1950’s and early 60’s. It already has a prominent place among a few other building designs that I have collected from other places dear to my heart.
It was my pleasure to have been able to contribute in a small way to the great celebration of Camp Alice Merritt Day and in particular writing about and honoring Nellie B. West. It was great fun sharing the day with my mom, Natalie Phillips, as she was part of the duo who “christened” the canoe in the pond, along with sharing the day with my daughter and granddaughter and recalling still vivid camping memories! Needless to say, girl scouting is still an integral part of our lives and an active part of our 4 generations (5 counting my deceased grandmother!)
Thank you for blending your Hartland historical interests and passion with those of girl scouts, especially in our 100th year. It was a joy working with you and may your good works continue to touch the lives of both young and old for generations to come!
With sincerest and heartfelt appreciation,
Janet Machol
THANK YOU!!! To Karen Delton
The Hartland Historical Society would like to thank Karen Delton for over 10 years of artistic support to our mission and organization. Karen’s artistry and attention to detail have made our miniatures a favorite at fundraising events.
She began experimenting with the idea in 1997 by painting generic homes on simple block pieces. Soon she was taking pictures of places and trying different methods to obtain a more realistic look. Every step would take several hours. Her talents included drawing, woodcutting, computer aided design, printing, decoupage, and hand painting. She finally settled on a process where she could “mass produce” small batches. Her first building was Eno Memorial Hall in Simsbury. She grew her enterprise to create items from Windsor to Riverton.
One day Karen approached Joan Stoltze, former president of the Hartland Historical Society, with a fundraising opportunity. We began to offer two Hartland miniatures a season in 2000. They were such a big success! Now 34 items later, they continue to help us fund the preservation of the museum and its collections. They have become a special tradition: as gifts to contributors, as real Hartland folk art, and as mementos sent to loved ones. They complement our mission beautifully!
While, at this time, Karen is not creating new items, we will continue to offer our current line of miniatures at our yearly events. We want to acknowledge our sincere appreciation! THANK YOU!!
2013 Events
May 17 Membership Mtg/Presentation
May 27 Memorial Day Parade
June TBD Members Only House Tour
July 24 Fireman’s Carnival booth
July 27 Carnival Parade
Aug. 11 Blueberry Picnic
Oct. 6 Membership Mtg/Presentation
Dec. 14 Santa Breakfast
Stanley Ransom Sr. painting found in attic - brought back to Hartland
William and Marie Jones lived in Colebrook, CT from 1955-1965 and during that time they purchased this painting. They moved back to Stamford where they lived out their lives.
William was the owner of all the Jones Drug Stores which were the only drug stores in town in the 1930s. The painting was in storage until Linda, their daughter, came across it in 2012. Linda's son, Robert, who is very interested in genealogy, had her research the name on the painting. She contacted the Society to see if they had an interest in having it. Linda and Robert drove to the Gaylord House and presented it to Grace Jones, daughter to Stanley, and curator, Joanne Groth.
Grace recalls - Stanley was known to sell his paintings through word of mouth. He was very involved in many social and business activities. This painting is of a farm that was located on West Street in West Hartland behind the present cemetery looking west. Some ruins of the barn remain today. The property was owned by the Fosters who at one time owned 100+ acres. It was then bought by Edward Ransom, Stanley Ransom Sr.’s father. Grace remembers playing, sledding, skiing and just plain sitting on the rocks at this farm with family or friends talking and telling stories during her childhood.
Hartland’s elevation is higher than Mount Tom’s by at least 20 feet. Mount Tom, located in Holyoke, MA, was a tourist attraction into the 1930s when a visitor could ride a cable car to the summit. The elevation for Mount Tom is listed by the United States Geological Survey as 1,205 feet.
It’s 1937 and Bob Mueller and Gert Stickney Lilliendahl are standing beside a telephone pole with a sign announcing: “Elevation 1225, Higher than Mt. Tom. “According to Al Lilliendahl, the sign may have been posted and the photo taken in the south east corner of the parking lot of the former Cugino's Restaurant."
CAN YOU HELP US?
Looking for period paddles to go with Camp Alice Merritt 1930 Old Town canoe.
We have the opportunity to obtain items that belong to the Gaylord family (a chair and a chest). Pam Doerr, a family relative has offered them to us but they are in Nevada!!! Is anyone going out there or have a connection that could help us get them home to Hartland?
Does anyone know how we could obtain dress forms/mannequins to display our clothing collection? We have 3 but could use more. Looking for donation or minimal costs.
P.S. Big thank you to Jen Gomez for passing on small wooden forms and Paul Munsey for constructing 2 adult size ones that we are using in our military exhibit
If you can help with any of the above, please email hartlandhistoricalsociety@gmail.com or give a call to Joanne (379-1610)