Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation

Notable of the Month - Reverend Francis Goodwin (1839 – 1923)

Reverend Francis Goodwin, commissioner of the Hartford Parks Commission, championed green spaces with the slogan, “More Parks for Hartford!” Goodwin envisioned Hartford being encircled by public parks and convinced several wealthy families, including Charles Pond and Henry Keney, to donate land or funds to the cause resulting in the creation of Elizabeth and Keney Parks. The Parks Commission renamed South Park, which opened to the public around 1900, Goodwin Park in recognition of Rev. Goodwin’s service to the city. Learn more about Goodwin and city parks during Mellissa Craig’s Hartford Landmarks & Legacy Tour on August 29th.

Jacob Weidenmann’s Hartford

Free Program - April 23

Noted 19th-century landscape architect Jacob Weidenmann designed Hartford’s Bushnell Park and Cedar Hill Cemetery. In this free program, panelists Don Poland, John Alexopolous and moderator Frank Hagaman provide historical context for Weidenmann’s capitol city projects.

Poland, owner of Don Poland Consulting, is an urban planner whose research interests include Hartford’s landscape design. Alexopolous, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Connecticut, is the author of The Nineteenth Century Parks of Hartford. Frank Hagaman is the Executive Director of Hartford Preservation Alliance.

The panel discussion will be held at Hartford Public Library, 500 Main Street. 5:30 pm reception & 6:00 pm program

Admission is free and participants will receive a copy of Rudy J. Favretti, Jacob Weidenmann Pioneer Landscape Architect.

Jacob Weidenmann’s Hartford is a collaborative program of Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation and Bushnell Park Foundation. Funding generously provided by Connecticut Humanities.

For detailed program description click here.

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