Highways and Byways of Connecticut Newspaper Inserts

Publication

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Windham Textile and History Museum

The Episode on Windham, CT: The image displays a page titled "The Highways and Byways of Connecticut - Episode 47: Windham," describing the historical story of Windham, Connecticut. It begins by mentioning the town’s settlement in 1676 and a notable event known as the Battle of the Frogs. The text elaborates on a night in July 1758, which was dark and dismal, when the citizens of Windham were disturbed by a terrifying noise from the skies, leading to various fearful reactions. Some believed it to be an attack by Indians, others thought it was the day of judgment, and a commentator noted the uproar resembled the sound of an impending calamity. The scene eventually revealed that frogs at a disappearing pond had caused the commotion.
The Episode on Windham, CT

The image displays a page titled "The Highways and Byways of Connecticut - Episode 47: Windham," describing the historical story of Windham, Connecticut. It begins by mentioning the town’s settlement in 1676 and a notable event known as the Battle of the Frogs. The text elaborates on a night in July 1758, which was dark and dismal, when the citizens of Windham were disturbed by a terrifying noise from the skies, leading to various fearful reactions. Some believed it to be an attack by Indians, others thought it was the day of judgment, and a commentator noted the uproar resembled the sound of an impending calamity. The scene eventually revealed that frogs at a disappearing pond had caused the commotion.

Name/Title

Highways and Byways of Connecticut Newspaper Inserts

Entry/Object ID

2024.74.01

Secondary Title

The Highways and Byways of Connecticut, Episodes 1-228.

Description

Beginning in 1947, the Hartford Times newspaper published 228 two-page, one-sheet inserts on 8 1/2 x 11 inch newsprint, titled "The Highways and Byways of Connecticut." Each insert carried two "vignettes," one on each side, that recounted interesting stories about Connecticut's towns, mountains, governors, and history. They were sponsored by G. Fox & Co. department store in Hartford, which retained the copyrights. Each vignette was labeled an Episode and given a number. Episodes 1-172 were about Connecticut towns, villages, and boroughs; Episodes 173-185 were about Connecticut mountains; and Episodes 186-228 were biographies of Connecticut governors. There were intended as collectibles, as well as advertising for G. Fox. None are illustrated. The Museum was gifted a ring binder with all 228 Episodes, each in a plastic sleeve.

Context

The years between the end of World War II (1945) and the Bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence (1976) were marked by an intense public interest in American history, including state and local history. The Hartford Times was a daily newspaper published in Hartford, CT, from 1817 to 1976. At one time, it had the largest circulation of any newspaper in the state, and was in its heyday in the 1920s, and still a major daily in 1947. G. Fox was the largest department store and Connecticut, an economic powerhouse whose owners often drove public policy. It was founded in 1847. It was the largest privately held department store in the nation when it was sold in 1965 to the May Department Stores Company. In 1993, May Department stores phased out the G. Fox & Co. brand, converting them into the Boston-based department store Filene's. In 2005, the May Company merged with Federated Department Stores which converted the store and several other regional chains to Macy's. The massive Hartford store was closed in 1993, the victim of suburbanization and the growth of suburban shopping malls. From 1938 until her death in 1968, G. Fox was owned Beatrice Fox Auerbach, the granddaughter of the founder and one of Connecticut's most influential business tycoons.

Collection

Jamie Eves Collection

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Ad, Newspaper

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Ad, Print

Nomenclature Class

Advertising Media

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Publication Details

Publication Type

Insert

Author

G. Fox & Co.

Place Published

City

Hartford, CT

Region

Northeast

Continent

North America

Date Published

1947

Printer

Hartford Times

Place Printed

City

Hartford, CT

Region

Northeast

Continent

North America

Date Printed

1947

Publication Language

English

Publication Subjects

Connecticut history

Dimensions

Dimension Description

114 sheets

Height

11 in

Width

8-1/2 in

Location

Location

Room

Dunham Hall Library Reading Room

* Untyped Location

Main Museum Building

Category

Permanent

Date

December 15, 2024

Condition

Overall Condition

Very Good

Date Examined

Dec 15, 2024

Examined By

Eves, J.

Copyright

Copyright Holder

G. Fox & Co.

Copyright Date

1947

Created By

historian@millmuseum.org

Create Date

December 15, 2024

Updated By

historian@millmuseum.org

Update Date

December 15, 2024