Time to Play

No matter the year, when the weather warms, Hartford residents of all ages want to be outside enjoying the City's parks. By the 1920s, most of the Hartford parks were well established. The roses bloomed annually at Elizabeth Park. Swimming was a hit at Riverside Park, and Colt and Pope Parks were the city's playgrounds. 

  

Holidays and special events brought races...

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Potato Sack Race

  

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Bean and Spoon Race

  

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Cart Race

  

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Model Sailboat Races

  

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Bicycle Race

  

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Horse Racing at Colt Park, May 31, 1925.

  

As well as team sports and competition.

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Tennis Match at Colt Park, July 9, 1919.

  

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Ring Toss

  

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Kids and Teens Ready to Golf

  

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Young Boys on the Fairway

  

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Cricket Team

  

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Irish Boys Hurling Team

  

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Men on the Golf Course

  

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Marbles Competition at Colt Park, May 2, 1925.

  

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Lawn Bowling tournament at Elizabeth Park, August 20-21, 1920.

  

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Tennis Match at Pope Park

Special programs and events were arranged for children, not unlike our summer camps today.

Two of the popular programs were the School gardens...

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Each student was given their own plot of land to tend. Colt Park, June 1918.

  

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Classes would attend two or three days a week. They would have classroom instruction, to learn about gardening. Colt Park, July 1918.

  

And Doll Day!

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Doll Day at Colt Park, 1920.

  

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"Best Dolls on Doll Day!" Colt Park, August 1920.

  

There was also the unstructured fun of playing on the playground, or swimming at the pool.

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A long Slide.

  

  

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The parallel rings at Pope Park, May 24, 1926.

  

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Colt Park outdoor gymnasium, August 1919.

  

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Merry-go-round at Riverside Park.

  

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The caption on the back of this photo reads, "Pavilion Street Playground, August 10, 1922."  The official name was Bellevue Street Playground, which opened in August 1922, and was one of the largest in the city at the time.

  

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Riverside Park Pool, 1930.

  

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Pope Park pool, 1932.

  

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Colt Park Pool, 1947.

  

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The wading pool at Riverside Park.

  

Play