On November 22, 2003, almost one hundred people congregated at the Hastings Hotel in Hartford to participate in what has historically been one of the most popular group Volksmarches in Connecticut. – the stroll through our capital city. 

Volksmarches are 10K group walks, sponsored by the American Volkssport Association. Today’s walk was planned by the Connecticut Valley Volkssport Club, which, along with the Hardware City Hoofers from New Britain, organize at least one walk a month somewhere in the state of Connecticut. 

On this unseasonably warm Saturday, walkers began their Volksmarch on Farmington Ave, passing the majestic insurance buildings that Hartford is renowned for. Hartford’s insurance business originated in the 1700s, when ship captains docked at Hartford’s Connecticut River port.  The ship captains often met at coffeehouses to arrange shared risks and profits.  Fire insurance was first offered 1794, and The Hartford Fire Insurance Co., the state’s first publicly owned insurance industry, was founded in 1810.

The Hartford Fire Insurance Company’s classic, domed office building located on Asylum Street, was constructed in 1921. The impressive building speaks volumes about the company’s prominent place in this city’s history. 

On nearby Farmington Avenue, Aetna Insurance houses offices in a huge brick building with columns, and banners on the outside promote healthy living. 

The state capitol, on Capitol Ave., is the next significant landmark that walkers visited. Built in 1876, it is the only Victorian Gothic state house in the country. Since it was Saturday, the building wasn’t open for tours, but it is open on weekdays from 9:30 to 3:00.

The Old State House on State Street was open for tours, however, and admission is free. On the outside of the building is a statue of Thomas Hooker, the preacher and statesman who founded the city of Hartford in 1636.  The state’s first written constitution was reportedly inspired by a sermon on the site where his statue now stands.

A quick stop inside provided walkers with a glimpse of the Senate Chamber on the second floor, as it would have appeared in 1820.  The Victorian City Council Room, across the hall, operated from 1876 to 1915, and the original wooden statue of Madame Justice, which graced the top of the state house for 149 years, was retired in 1976 and is now on view also.

A small museum room, first established by Joseph Stewart in 1797, once provided a means for sailors to bring exotic animals from far-away places to a location for public viewing.  According to the museum docent, people wanted to see the animals because there were no pictures in those days.  The museum probably also provided Stewart, an artist, with an opportunity to obtain commissions to paint portraits of the patrons. 

The little treasure room still holds interest today, as it features many rare animals, including a two-headed calf and a large unicorn horn in a glass case.  Museum officers are still searching for some objects to exhibit, such as a Sea Dog, and an 18-foot crocodile from Egypt. 

Outside of the Traveler’s building, which is a block away from the Old State House, is another important bit of Connecticut History: a statue of a family that embodies the state motto, Qui transtulit sustinet: He who transplanted still sustains. It seems a particularly fitting motto to contemplate during the Thanksgiving season.

Across the street, at the First Church of Christ, is an ancient burial ground, with some tombstones dating back to the 16th century.  There are also many sarcophagi, memorializing prominent citizens.  A sign on the gate alerts visitors that they may take a guided tour, to learn more about Hartford’s founders and ancestors. 

The Hartford Volksmarch is a history-packed tour that motivates many walkers to return for more extensive sightseeing. In fact, Carol West, one of the walk organizers, said that 39 Canadians would be visiting next week.  She said that they do the walk every year. They will get their maps from the Hastings Hotel, as we did.  If fact, any interested walker may park in the rear hotel parking lot and request a walking route and a map from the receptionist at any time. 

To obtain more information about the American Volkssport Association, call 1-800-830-Walk, or see their website at www.ava.org.