ASHFORD CT

ASHFORD CT

Ashford Green

Built - 1915

The town of Ashford is located in the northern section of Connecticut on land purchased from the local tribe of Native Americans in 1684 and later settled by four families in 1710. The town developed quickly because it was located on the original thoroughfare between the large cities of Hartford and Boston. Due to its prime location, industry thus thrived for many years after the War of 1812 with woolen and tin factories and most notably the Westford Glass Company which was founded in 1857. This world-renowned glass-blown factory remained open until 1873.

Ashford's bandstand was built in 1915 according to town records, after a parcel of land was purchased by Roscoe H. Wright of Ashford and the Babcock Band, also of Ashford. One dollar rent was charged yearly from that point on for the term of ninety nine years for the 30 square feet of land to be used solely for band concerts for the townspeople and other visitors with no other structure to be built other than the bandstand. After Mr. Wright passed away, the property was sold and the bandstand remained on this sight until the mid 1970s when it was moved to its present location on the Old Ashford Town Common.

The Babcock Cornet Band was organized in 1862 and was named after the founder, Archibald Babcock, who, upon his death, left $46,000 to the town for a library and a "band of music." Today's band is made up of 10 to 15 members between the ages of 13 to near 80, as of this writing, and is currently led by its first female conductor, Jaimie Beers-Hall.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:
Barbara B. Metsack, Town Clerk

AVON CT

AVON CT

Avon Town Green

Built - 1995

Avon was incorporated as a separate town in 1830, taking its name from the Avon River in England. In those early days, it had three hotels, a carriage and blacksmith shop and several stores. Its town seal depicts the Towpath Canal as its central theme reflecting on Avon's importance as an inland water port.

Avon's bandstand was built in 1995 on its town green and is the first one the town has had. It was designed and built in conjunction with the Town Green master plan. The bandstand was a volunteer project of the Avon Garden Club and took many months of careful planning with its resulting structure being a magnificent one financed by volunteer contributions of the town's residents, families and friends.

The bandstand has been extensively used each summer for special community events, band concerts and the annual popular "Avon Day."

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:
Phillip Schenck, Town Manager

BOLTON CT

BOLTON CT

Bolton Bandstand

Bolton Green

Built - 1992

The town of Bolton is located just 15 miles east of Hartford, Connecticut. It is considered to be one of the oldest towns in the state having been incorporated in October of 1720 after the first settlers came to the area and originally naming the town in honor of their own home in Lancashire, England.

Originally that part of Connecticut was the hunting grounds of the Podunk Indians who left the area after the settlers came in who mostly set up farms in that area later renamed Bolton. Soon the manufacture of hats, cigars, and distilleries along with a gristmill were developed in town. Sometime later, the Bolton Quarry was established and soon sent "flags" of stone to Washington, Oklahoma, Baltimore and New Orleans.

The Bolton Bandstand is located in a large grassy area and was built in 1992 by Country Carpenters who also donated the material to the community to use as a focal point for future events. No problems were encountered in the building of the structure other than the land having some wet soils.

Each year the town sponsors concert series during the summer months along with carol singing in the winter and various other gatherings for the community or individual events.

INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY:
Joyce M. Stille, Administrative Officer

BRIDGEPORT CT

BRIDGEPORT CT

Washington Park

Built - 1884

Bridgeport is Connecticut's largest city and combines its rich history as of a powerful industrial center with a wide diversity of people and cultures. The city was also known as the "Arsenal of Democracy" during World War 2 for its strong manufacturing base and has most recently been named as one of America's "100 Best Communities for Young People" due to its strong efforts in creating a healthy and safe environment for its children. The city is also known as the "Park City" due to a number of spectacular parks including the Seaside Park and Beardsley Park both designed by the famous Frederick Olmstead of Central Park fame.

Washington Park in Bridgeport is located in a physically deteriorating neighborhood in this large Connecticut city. It is a 500 foot square plot of land ringed by sidewalks and bounded by four wide streets. In the center of this space there is a cast-iron bandstand which was constructed in 1884 after designed by the Bridgeport architectural firm of Palliser, Palliser and Company. Sidewalks string out from this imposing structure which has always been the central point of the park with these walking lanes lined by shade trees of elm, linden and maple in matching pairs. A very simple cast-iron fence borders the park and of which was erected in 1865.

Efforts are under way to restore the Washington Park and neighborhood to its once grandeur style which was the pride of Bridgewport years ago and a very desirable place to live.

Unfortunatley, there is not much information available on the very old bandstand in the middle of the park but it can safely be said that in its heyday, it was the venue for many wonderful concerts.

BRIDGEPORT CT

BRIDGEPORT CT

The Peacock Pavilion

The Beardsley Zoo

The Beardsley Zoo is over 80 years old as of this writing, and is Connecticut's only zoo. It not only has acres of wonderful areas to view the many species of animals but the zoo is a member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Associates and participates in its Species Survival Plan which is involved in the preservation of endangered animals.

The Peacock Pavilion is considered to be an award-winning stage located in the Zoo's Picnic Grove. The very unique structure has a gulf-wing designed stage. This combined with the grove's natural bowl-shaped landscape, creates a great site for the Zoo's many special programs which showcases its animals. Ethnic dance festivals, magic performances and Shakespearian productions round out its diversified programs.

Musical performers who have used the pavilion as a venue have included: John Gorka, Patty Larkin, Tom Paxton, Annie & The Natural Band and many others. The Peacock Pavilion is a wonderful place to lay out a blanket or sit at one of the 80 picnic tables that surround the structure. Peacocks often run wild so this area is a prime area for peacock watching also.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:
http://www.beardsleyzoo.org

CANTON CT

CANTON CT

The Canton Bandstand

Canton Green

Built - 1960

Canton is a rural town in Connecticiut that was incorporated in 1806 in Hartford County. Its claim to fame was at the Collins Ax Factory where Elisha Root invented the important industrial technique of die casting. Canton is the home of the 115-acre Roaring Brook Nature Center which is composed of six miles of self-guided trails with a building that has a replica of an eastern woodland Indian longhouse which also has classes, concerts and a gift shop and is a popular tourist attraction.

Canton's bandstand was built during the summer of 1960 on Canton Green which is right off of Route #44 that runs through the town. Canton is not only proud of its well-built bandstand but also boasts it being the "Town of Champions" since many local championships have been won through their wonderful school system.

The Canton Bandstand is the first the town has had and has been re-roofed and re-furbished over the years and kept in marvelous condition by the residents who always come out in droves and enjoy their summer band concerts on their town green.

The structure was designed and built by Kenneth Bristol with the local Lions Club providing $200 of the funds needed with Mr. Bristol donating the rest. The bandstand is very well-built and has excellent acoustics due to the design and location of the structure.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:

Joan Finney, Mr. Bristol's daughter

Elizabeth Van Ness, Canton Public Library

CLINTON CT

CLINTON CT

The Vece Memorial Bandstand

Information is currently unavailable on Clinton CT bandstand

COLCHESTER CT

COLCHESTER CT

Colchester Green

Information is currently unavailable on Colchester CT bandstand

DERBY CT

DERBY CT

Information is currently unavailable on Derby CT bandstand

EAST HAVEN CT

EAST HAVEN CT

East Haven Town Green

Built - c. 1920

East Haven was originally known as East Farms and was obtained from indian Schems Momaugin and Mantowese. In later years the first Connecticut ironwords was located in the area by Lake Saltonstall and East Farms became known as Works Village, the third iron industry in the New England colonies.

East Haven's bandstand was built on a slightly elevated cement slab which had once had another gazebo built on it but removed after it became unsafe. The structure was renovated in 2003 with an addition put on the front side to accommodate larger bands. The structure is used frequently during the summer months during the town's band concerts. Many big name bands and groups have performed on it especially during the town's popular annual Fall Festival along with the town's award winning school bands. During Memorial Day, the structure is used as a venue to honor service people and used to salute the flag on Flag Day.

INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY:
Elizabeth C. Leary, Town Clerk

EAST WOODSTOCK CT

EAST WOODSTOCK CT

East Woodstock Common

Built - 1986

The town of East Woodstock was originally part of Massachusetts in 1682 when residents of Ruxbury, Massachusetts settled in the area purchasing a large tract of land from the Mohegan Nation. The town was then renamed New Roxbury until changed to Woodstock in 1690 and becoming part of the state of Connecticut.

The town was wholly an agricultural area but after the War of 1812 became a bustling industrial one with distilleries, wheel wrights, oil mills, sawmills and most importantly shoe factories. By the mid 19th century, industry slowed down and the area became mostly a summer retreat for many wealthy and affluent New York City and other large city residents most notably by Henry C. Bowen who built his large summer home- Roseland Cottage, then holding very lavish 4th July and other summer parties attended by the likes of Henry Ward Beecher, General John Fharles Fremont and Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Benjamin Harrison.

East Woodstock's bandstand was built on the East Woodstock Common in 1986. It is the second structure the town has had with the original one destroyed in a severe 1939 hurricane. The bandstand was a community and church project headed up by Mary and Bob Billings for a venue for concerts and as a centerpiece for the town's 4th of July Jamboree and was financed by donations from residents of the community.

The bandstand has not only been used as a stage for the local popular East Woodstock Cornet Band but also for various church and community events and an occasional wedding. Various state officials along with the town's selectmen have given numerous speeches from the bandstand during holidays and the annual Jamboree.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:
Reverend Susan J. Foster, Pastor
E. Woodstock Congregational Church

ENFIELD CT

ENFIELD CT

Joseph E. O'Connor Gazebo

Enfield Town Green

Built - 1984

The town of Enfield is 18 miles north of Hartford and named and incorporated by the Colony of Massachusetts in 1683 and then annexed to Connecticut in 1749. The Bigelow Sanford Company was located in the town at one time and was one of the nation's largest carpet manufacturing concern at that time. The town also was the home of the Hazard Powder Company, who manufactured gunpowder during the Civil War and the Crestline Boat Company which was a subsidiary of the Bigelow Sanford Company. The town is also located in the Tobacco Valley which produced a large crop in the early days of the 19th century and back.

Enfield's bandstand was built on the Town Green in 1984 and so dedicated to Joseph O'Connor who was the mayor of the town from November 1981 to February 1985. Planning for the building of this bandstand took place for a period of 2 years by various groups and individuals. It was felt that a "gazebo" would be a focal point in the town which was needed and would be a viable facility that could be used for various social events. It was felt that it would also afford a year-round location for outdoor community cultural and ceremonial activities establishing a sense of community pride in Enfield. It would also serve as a showplace for the many talented musicians, artists and performers of all ages. Thus the town of Enfield established its very successful Enfield Gazebo Fund in January of 1983 and over $33,000 in donations was received. The groundbreaking was finally held at the end of July of 1983 and the project was completed in September, 1983.

The structure is octagonal with a brick base that supports a balustrade. Wooden posts and brackets support the conical roof, which is covered with wooden shingles. Atop the roof is a bronze weathervane in the shape of a drummer boy.

INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY:
Dorothy Flanders, Cheryl Beturne
Enfield Public Library &
Jean Blaser, Town Hall

ESSEX CT

ESSEX CT

Essex Village Town Park

Built - 1988

The town of Essex was incorporated in 1852 and originally named Old Saybrook, taken from Saybrook, Connecticut but the name was changed to Essex two years later. The town is very proud of its industries which include boat building and repair, turbine blades, machine parts, novelties, naval lighting equipment, bent wire products and tourism.

Their bandstand was built in 1988 in Essex Village Town Park and is the first one the community has had. The idea of having a bandstand on the common was the Lions Club's idea who planned and financed the project. The bandstand or "gazebo" as they call it, was pre-built and delivered to the site. Various bands play on the bandstand including the "Essex Sailing Masters of 1812."

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:
Don Malcavin, Essex Town Historian

ESSEX CT

ESSEX CT

Ivoryton Village Green Park

Built - 1997

The Ivoryton section of Essex, Connecticut became a leader in the ivory industry during the Industrial Revolution after originally being an important area for the production of hand-made sailing ships. A Mr. Samuel M. Comstock firmly established that section of town into an ivroy bi-product producing area when in 1862, he went into partnership with George Cherry and formed the prestigious Comstock, Chery & Company. The large factory they established turned out piano actions and keyboards, as well as other ivory artifacts for years. It was literally the center of this business in the United States at that time.

Ivoryton got its name in the 1880s, originally having been known as West Centerbrook. During World War 2, the company changed hands and renamed Pratt-Read and changed the production line to produce gliders for the war effort employing thousands of residents in the area.

Ivoryton's bandstand was built on the Ivoryton Village Green Park in 1997 by the local Eagle Scouts and funded by contributions from individuals, businesses and the Ivoryton Lion's Club. The only problem in the building of the structure was that it took the Eagle Scouts much longer to build it as anticipated but it was a learning experience for them.

INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY:
Don Malcarne, Town Historian

FAIRFIELD CT

FAIRFIELD CT

Sherman Green Gazebo

Sherman Green

Built - 1984

Fairfield's original name was Unquowa given by Native Americans who lived in the marshy area that bordered the coast of Connecticut. The land was quite fertile for farming and the marshlands provided a plentiful supply of feed for the livestock once the founder of the colony of Connecticut, Roger Ludlow, settled in the area. The Indian nation in the area soon dwindled, after contact with these Europeans, due to diseases brought and battles fought with these new land owners. The town prospered and grew and the residents became caught up in the Revolutionary War crisis since constant battles were being fought not too far away across Long Island Sound.

Fairfield remained a quiet agricultural town until the railroad cem in and nearby Bridgeport became the center of a large munitions industry during World War 1 which prompted many homes to be built in the town when workers in the factory wished to live in the small town and outside the noisy city. Thankfully, the town today still maintains a New England look and feel about it.

Fairfield's Sherman Green Gazebo was built on the spacious Sherman Green in 1984 and was modeled after a gazebo in Sefton Park in Liverpool England. It is the first bandstand in the town's long history and through the help of many volunteers and materials, the structure was completed for the enjoyment of concerts and activities the community has. Not only do concerts, weddings, Santa's visits, Halloween parades, craft fairs, etc. take place each year on or around the bandstand but also many other numerous activities.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:

Kenneth Dalling, Concert Coordinator

GRANBY CT

GRANBY CT

Salmon Brook Park

Built - 1990

The town of Granby is located on the north central part of Connecticut close to the Massachusetts state line and 13.6 miles from Hartford. This makes the town a white collar-type residential community due to Hartford's great insurance, financial and industrial concerns. The town itself also offers many employment opportunities as well as cultural, recreational and educational facilities and still maintains its rural, traditional and charming values.

Grandby's band shell is located on the spacious Salmon Brook Park grounds and can accomodate thousands of patrons to the concerts held each summer. The shell was built in 1990 by Chamber of Commerce members through community donations. The park itself, has a number of buildings that have very similar wood frame designs that the band shell has. The structure is made of wooden arches that form the base for a pointed arched roof.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:

Kay Woodford, Recreation Department

MERIDEN CT

MERIDEN CT

James J. Barry Bandshell

Hubbard Park

Built - 1956

The "Silver City" of Meriden started out as a town in 1806 and established itself as a city in 1867. The community is very rich in history and pride by its citizens and boasts a long-time thriving economy due to many manufacturing concerns within the city limits. Its location is ideal being midway between Hartford and New Haven.

The James J. Barry Band Shell in Hubbard Park was built in 1956 by Walter Hubbard as a venue for community entertainment on the far end/center of a large grassy area of the park. The structure was donated to the town by a wealthy benefactor, James J. Barry, so no funds had to be raised for the band shell. The structure is built with rustic brick and stone and should last for many more years to come. It is an open air pavilion with Corinthian columns and is the first bandstand the city had had in its long history.

The band shell plays host to many summer concerts with the big event of the city being the Daffodil Festival which is held in the last week of April.

INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY:
Karrie Lee Buonanni, Clerk
City Clerk's Office

HADDAM CT

HADDAM CT

Gazebo On The Green

Higganum Town Green

Built - 2000

Haddam is considered to be one of the hidden treasures of the state. It once had a very brisk river trade with an abundance of ships being built in its port, granite quarries and pre-Industrial Revolution water-powered mills. Even with all of this past industry, and now increasing economic growth, it still retains its own rural picturesque setting and personality and boasts having more authentic colonial-era homes than Williamsburg. The highway and scenery through town holds much beauty and is a favorite as listed in publications from Connecticut Magazines and "Connecticut's Best" highways to the Rand McNally Road Atlas.

Haddam's "Gazebo on the Green" was recently built in 2000 and is a Georgian-style structure built on Higganum Town Green by the Haddam Lions Club members. Residents and local contractors all volunteered their time and expertise in the building of this magnificent bandstand designed by Haddam Lion Club member Mark Aldieri, Architect. It was built to create continued community gatherings and functions and continue the town's strong community atmosphere. The bandstand was financed through Haddam Lions Club fundraisers and by resident and business donations.

There were some problems in the development and building of the structure which involved site approval by the Connecticut State Highway Department and the Haddam Town Zoning Department with some setbacks in the dedication date of the structure with issues involving the closeness to two roadways involved. The Higganum Town Green was not a problem for the location of the bandstand due to its natural amphitheatre lay of the land and the final dedication date took place on July 11th of 2000 with speeches and a band concert. Since that date, random concerts have been held in June and July with several local groups playing on the bandstand's stage under the direction of the Haddam Kinningworth Recreation Department. Also in August, the bandstand serves as the venue for Haddam River Days, September Pumpkin Run races, October prayer services and December's Christmas caroling.

The Haddam Lions Club members spent several weekends hand-picking and splitting granite for the base and removing a large 75 foot evergreen that had been planted by town residents in 1937. This tree was then milled at a local sawmill creating the ridge beam of the bandstand. The Lions Club then donated a new 15 foot evergreen on the north section of the green holding a special dedication in memory of those who planted the original tree in 1937.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:
Dave Esposito, Past President Lions Club
Building Committee/Project Supervisor/
Coordinator, Owner-Esposito Bldg. Inc.

HARWINTON CT

HARWINTON CT

Harwinton Fairgrounds Bandstand

Harwinton Fairgrounds

Built - 1951

The town of Harwinton is located in Litchfield County and was incorporated in 1737. Prior to the establishment of this new town, the land was controlled by the towns of Hartford and Windsor. Harwinton's name was taken from a combination of the names of these two towns and is the only town in the world with this name. The newly-formed community filled up rapidly since it was on the road from Hartford to Litchfield.

The very popular Harwinton Fair offers a combination of food, music and other entertainment on its fairgrounds which has just entered into its 148th season during September and October and as of this writing. The fair has many wonderful events including oxen and poultry judging, cattle showmanship, wood-chopping competitions and entertainment from its bandstand.

The Harwinton Fairgrounds Bandstand was built in 1951 after it was evident that such a structure was needed for all of the concerts during the fair and became the focal point and gathering place for attendees to listen to good old-fashioned music. Recently the headliner on the bandstand has been the Bristol Old Tyme Fiddlers who perform on both days of the fair and draws large crowds as well as other local bands.

Originally the floor of the bandstand was at a site nearby and was moved to the current site with new posts set for support by a local builder, Henry Kirchofer, who also built the roof. In 1999, the Harwinton Agricultural Society installed the skirt around the bottom of this typical new England Functional structure. The bandstand is located at the north end of the fairgrounds on the main midway overlooking the horse shoe ring at the high point. All work on the bandstand was finanaced by the Harwinton Agricultural Society.

INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY:
Bruce R. Mosher, Director
Harwinton Agricultural Society

KILLINGLY CT

KILLINGLY CT

Davis Park Bandstand

Davis Park

Built - 1894

Killingly is located in the northeast corner of the state of Connecticut in a region known as the "quiet corner" because of its rural nature. The history of the area is one of industrialism since the late 1700s when William Cundall established one of the earliest woolen works in the state. The residents of Killingly also played an important role in the advancement of the lives of African-Americans since during the 1750s, Israel Proctor deeded and willed his former Negro servants approximately ninety acres in Killingly which was probably the earliest farm to be owned by free Negroes in souther New England. A century later, Henry Hammond became a resident of the town and quickly became a very influential politician organizing the first anti-slavery society in Connecticut.

In the 1800s, textile mills started to be built along the Quinebaug and Five Mile Rivers and Whetstone Brook and in 1836, Killingly proudly proclaimed itself as the greatest cotton manufacturing town in the state. Railroad access in 1840 brought in immigrants from Quebec to work in the mills until the early 1900s when many textile manufacturers moved south where labor and operating costs were lower.

In the 1920s, Killingly became known as "Curtaintown, USA" after the firm of Powdrell and Alexander opened six curtain factories in town.

Killingly also boasts many prominent residents including Mary Kies, the first woman in the United States to receive a patent, and Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany's in New York.

In the summer of 1893, an interest in a bandstand arose for the town's popular Davis Park. Several hundred dollars was then raised and contractors were consulted and the planning stage began. Nothing happened for a few months until April of 1894. It is then noted in town records that during an April blizzard, interest resumed to build this structure for use during the summer and one could have seen Mr. J. Q. A. Stone "tramping around in the slush and the pneumonia blasts of the day, getting subscriptions for the bandstand." Results were good from Mr. Stone and others efforts and the assurance was given that with the aid of the Borough appropriations, the summer would see Davis Park adorned with a bandstand worthy of the site.

A further description of the bandstand was to be "an octagon, 20 feet square - a pretty problem for lovers of geometric problems." A very experienced contractor, Mr. Fisher, was hired and began work on the bandstand and gave the building of the structure a very special touch of hand-carved woodwork which was unfortunately vandalized in the 1970s. In 1965, the structure was repaired and repainted after years of wear, tear and the problems the town had with vandalism then again ten years later in 1975.

Needless to say, many bands have played on the stage over the long history of the bandstand including the earlier Mechanics Band and St. James Band and over the years the Killington High School Band, East Woodstock Cornet Band and the 102nd Army Band of Connecticut and the Army National Guard Band - to name a few.

Many special events have taken place on the structure including the early 1908 town's bi-centennial, the 1976 USA bi-centennial, Arts Festivals and the Springtime Festival along with the hundreds of concerts over the years. A special VIP - Congressman Robert H. Steele also made an appearance on the bandstand along with a few other notables.

INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY:

Marilyn Labbe, Researcher

The Killingly Historical &

Genealogical Society Library