With its inaugural launch for the month of February 2023, Hartford’s Black Heroes Trail honors Hartford heroes that have made history at the local and national level. The inaugural version of the trail features 19 installations along Main Street in Hartford, each highlighting a different impactful hero with a brief description of their accomplishments. The project is in conversation with the Hartford History Center’s “Hartford Changemakers” reference guide. Learn more below and click on names to the left to learn more about our over 45 change makers.
The idea for the Hartford Black Heroes Trail was originally brought to Councilwoman Tiana Hercules from local advocate Bridgitte Prince and was developed by her office with significant help from the Hartford History Center at Hartford Public Library, Hartford’s Department of Public Works and Office of Equity & Opportunity, as well as dozens of neighborhood organizations. The project also received sponsorship from Councilwoman Shirley Surgeon and Council Majority Leader TJ Clarke.
To learn more about the honorees, or where to find their respective installations, you can follow along on our interactive map.
LOCATIONS AND HONOREES:
Hartford Public Library Downtown (500 Main St.)
Hartford City Hall (550 Main St.)
Central Row (750 Main St.)
Capital Community College (950 Main St.)
Honoring Thirman L. Milner - Former Mayor of Hartford (Born 1933)
Dunkin Donuts Park (1214 Main St.)
Semilla Cafe (1283 Main St.)
Honoring Travis Dimeer Terry - Entrepreneur & Fashion Designer (Born 1998)
Keney Tower (Corner of Main and Ely St.)
Community Renewal Team (1443 Main St.)
Hartford Fire Department Engine Co. 2/District 2 (1515 Main St.)
Women's League Inc Child Development (1695 Main St.)
Old North Cemetery (1759 Main St. and 1910 Main St.)
Hartford Public Library, SAND/Ropkins Branch (1750 Main St.)
Mt. Olive Church Ministries (20 Battles St. - Corner of Battles and Main)
Honoring Rev. Dr. Richard Battles - Civil Rights Leader, Advocate, Reverend (1928-1980)
Philips Health Center (2532 Main St.)
Parker Memorial Community Center (2621 Main St.)
Honoring Marcus Camby - Professional Basketball Player (Born 1974)
William R. Hales Corner (3296 Main St. - Corner of Tower and Main)
Honoring William Roy Hales - Businessman, Media Publisher (1934-2007)
West Indian Social Club (3340 Main St.)
Honoring Phyllis Goggins - World's fastest Double Dutch Jumper (1968-2015)
St. Monica’s Episcopal Church (3575 Main St.)
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Hartford’s Department of Public Works, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, The Hartford Courant, Hartford History Center at Hartford Public Library, Capital Community College, Northeast NRZ, Clay Arsenal NRZ, Upper Albany NRZ, Blue Hills Civic Association, Phillips Health Center - Buchanan, Community Renewal Team, St. Monica’s Church, Mount Olive Church, Connecticut Historical Society - Tasha Caswell, The Connecticut State Library - Mel Smith, Reggie Hales, Laverne Terry, Hartford Public High School Athletic Hall of Fame - Mike Forest.
The Hartford Changemakers online resource is made up of reference materials on Black, Latinx, and indigenous Hartford historical figures who made a difference in the city and beyond. Many of these figures came out of a Black History Month project in 2016 called More Than a Month and the Draw a Hartford History Maker community art project that took place in 2017. This will be an evolving resource as we continue to add more people and materials.
El recurso en línea de Hartford Changemakers está compuesto por materiales de referencia sobre figuras históricas negras, latinas e indígenas de Hartford que marcaron la diferencia en la ciudad y más allá. Muchas de estas cifras surgieron de un proyecto del Mes de la Historia Negra en 2016 llamado Más de un mes y el proyecto de arte comunitario Draw a Hartford History Maker que tuvo lugar en 2017. Este será un recurso en evolución a medida que continuamos agregando más personas y materiales.
Hartford Public Library
Central Branch: 500 Main Street. Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: 860-695-6300 | Text: 860-530-4376 | Email: contactus@hplct.org | Chat: www.hplct.org
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