14 Historic Photos That Show Us What It Was Like Living In Connecticut In The Early 1900s

Passage of time got you thinking about the good old days? Check out these photos from life in Connecticut back in the early 1900s. Some things have certainly changed, but surprisingly, plenty remains the same today!

1. Kids eating lunch at school (1944)

This one's not too different from today, except that the students were being taught in a small one-room schoolhouse!

2. The Cutaway Harrow Factory

Connecticut was once an important center for manufacturing. The Cutaway Harrow Factory, located in Higganum, employed more than 150 men at its peak. The factory produced farm equipment.

3. Woman rushing in from the snow

This is one we can all sympathize with! At least our modern cars have heating.

4. Christmas decorations at the historic Porter Mansion

This stunningly beautiful home was all decked out for the holidays! Sadly, the home burned down in 1925.

5. Camp Filley (1937)

The Civilian Conservations Corps. was an important nation-wide program set up after the Great Depression. It helped to get men back to work by producing parks and other public works. Camp Filley was a huge help to citizens in the area after the 1936 flood, when it was used to assist with relief efforts.

6. Elizabeth R. Morris, Mary A. Johnson, and Rosa J. Fisher (1917)

These stylish women were members of the Colored Women's Liberty Loan Committee. Many people find it amazing that women didn't get the right to vote until 1920, but what's even more egregious is that black women didn't really have that right until decades later.

7. Wolf's Head fraternity house at Yale College (1901)

The elite Wolf's Head fraternity is one of the "Big Three" secret societies at Yale. It boasts many famous members, including politicians and businessmen. This was the "Old Hall," which was replaced in 1924 by a newer building.

8. Banquet at Yale College's Alumni Hall (c. 1900-1906)

You may notice the distinct lack of female students in this photo. Yale didn't accept women until September 1969!

9. Willimantic Cotton Mills Corporation (1907)

The textile industry was extremely important to the Willimantic area in the early 20th century. This sprawling cotton mill shut down in 1985.

10. Harvard vs. Yale football game (1908)

This rivalry has been going on for what feels like time immortal! This contest was held at George H.W. Bush Field (then called Yale Field) and Harvard emerged victorious.

11. Men with vehicles outside of Edmund Cogswell Converse's home (1908)

Steel magnate Edmund Cogswell Converse owned the massive Conyers Farm near the New York border.

12. 11-year-old girl selling newspapers in Hartford (1909)

It was not uncommon for children as young as 5 or 6 to work until late in the night selling newspapers.

13. Boys playing in the Bancroft-Foote Boys Club (1909)

Boys clubs were particularly common in this time, and provided safe places for boys with nowhere to go to get out of the street.

14. Women working at the Colt's Patent Fire Arms Plant (c. 1918)

Colt's Manufacturing Company was a major industry in Connecticut. Many women were employed there after the United States joined World War I, taking many young men overseas.

Some of these photos were from the Haddam Historical Society's Facebook page. It's a must-see for fans of Connecticut history, so check it out!