The James Blackstone Memorial Library has four albums of photographs taken during the Branford Carnivals of the early 20th century. The Branford Agricultural Fair was started in 1895 and included a parade and displays held on the Branford Green. Later the fair moved to the Driving Park, also known as Hippodrome Park, and bicycle and trotting races were added. The event was reorganized by the Branford Businessmen Association in 1905 and became known as the Branford Carnival. The fair was abandoned in 1907 and 1908 but resumed in 1909. The last record I have for the carnival is 1910, however, newspapers should be consulted for later dates.
John H. Morton of Branford was a pharmacist and manager of the Peckham Drug Store across from the Branford Green. He was also a professional photographer and took the photographs for three of the four carnival albums. Many of the views were made into photo postcards and sold to the public. The Branford Historical Society has over one hundred proofs of Branford neighborhoods photographed by Morton that were made into postcards.
One of the 1905 albums is clearly by a different photographer. The initials L. H. T. can be found in the lower right corner of the photographs. This is without question Laura Hammer Tenney. The members of the Hammer family were avid photographers and supporters of the library.
The albums are in good condition, however, suffer from warping, and have been scanned to better view the images. Many of the views are labeled in pencil which has grown faint over the years. All the photographs have been labeled below since much of the pencil is barely legible. The photographs have been given a year and photograph number.
Other Branford Carnival photographs have been added. Seventeen scans of photo postcards taken by John H. Morton were scanned from my private postcard collection. These are identified and numbered as Bouley. Additionally, the Branford Historical Society has a large collection of carnival photographs in their collection.
Jane Peterson Bouley May 2006
To see a description of a photograph, simply click on it.
1905. P.H. Dunn
Patrick Dunn, plumber
1905, Mrs. G.E. Evans
(Melvena, wife of Dr. George Evans)
1905, Hoadley & Hutchinson float
(Store on Main Street)
1905, Short Beach School float
1905, Mrs. Seymour Linsley and Miss Pauline Smith
1905, S.A. Griswold Store float
(Samuel A. Griswold)
1905, High School, Class of 1907
1905, Phyllis Hibbard and Emma Jerold; Esther Bartholomew and Grace Ryder; Herbert Linsley and Gladys Jerold
1905, MIF float
1905, Olive Thompson, Barbara Thompson, Mrs W.E. Thompson (Alice, wife of Dr. Wilson Thompson)
1905, John W. Nichols and grandchildren
(Cherry Hill farm)
1905, Branford peaches float
(Probably the Plant family farm)
1905, Miss Young
(There were four Young daughters, no other label)
1905, James G. Palmer
1905, John W. Nichols and grandchildren
Judson Stent and ox team
1905, V.T. Hammer and son, Valdemar
1905
1905, Mrs. Lorana Smith, age 90 and Mr. Goddard
(Dwight Goddard)
1905, Miss Mary Plant and Mrs. A.B. Plant (Luella, Mrs. Albert Plant)
1905, Phyllis Hibbard and Emma Jerold
1905
1905, George Marsh and V.T. Kamm & son
1905, Ralph Blackstone’s team
1905, Clifford Morton
1905, Perry Prann and Roy Goodwill
1905, Mrs. S.G. Linsley (Margaret, wife of Seymour Linsley)
1905
1905, Marshals of the parade
1905, Mrs. George E. Evans (Melvena, wife of Dr. George Evans)
1905, Mr. and Mrs. Elon Bragg (Mary)
1905, MIF float
1905, Mrs. Young (presume Ellen, Mrs. A.M. Young)
1905, P.H. Dunn float
1905, Stony Creek Drum Corps
1905, John McDonald
1905, Mrs. L.V. Gaylord and Miss Anna Gaylord (Alice, wife of Lynde Gaylord)
1905, Mrs. S.G. Linsley
1905, Charles Goldsmith
1905, High School seniors, class of 1906
1905, The Ark float
(restaurant in Indian Neck)
1905, Town Hall
1905, Pythias Hall
(later the old Community House on South Main Street)
1905, Ex-senators E.F. Jones and W.J. Clark (Edward and William)
1905, Reception tent
1905, G.H. Foote market float (George Foote)
1909, The Green
1909
1909
1909, Helen Haldeman and Laura Tenney
1909, Mr. Spargo with S.A. Griswold
1909, Mrs. H.M. Ferguson, Olive Thompson and Virginia Shepard
1909, Center School float, 7th grade
1909
1909, Stony Creek School float
1909, High School, Class of 1911
1909, F.S. Prann and children (Frederick)
1909, MIF float
1909, Mr. & Mrs. J.C. Ely and children, Mr. & Mrs. R.V. Averill (John and Roy)
1909, Center School float
1909, Center School float
1909, Richard Torpey
1909, S.V. Osborn float (Sidney)
1909, Canoe Brook School float
1909, High School Seniors, Class of 1910
1909, Center School float
1909, St. Marys Dramatic Club
1909, Mrs. Norman Brainerd (Natalie) and Molly Drake
1910, Branford Green
1910, Branford Battery
1910, Parade Marshals led by L.E. Gilmore (Luther)
1910, Branford Battery
1910, Branford Battery
1910, Polish Society
1910
1910, Branford Point Float
1910, Veterans G.A.R.
1910, MIF float
1910, MIF float
1910, MIF float
1910, MIF float
1910, MIF float
1910, MIF float
1910, MIF float
1910, Florence Pond
1910, North Branford ladies
1910, North Branford delegation
1910, Cherry Hill Farm
1910, Short Beach Ladies Tea Party
1910, Branford T.A.B. Society (Total Abstinence & Benevolent Society)
1910, Branford Division A.O.H.
1910, Claus Johnson of Short Beach, boat builder, boat “Comet”
