"Hartford High School" by Katie McGrath

In 1960 it was decided, due to overcrowded schools, that a new school was necessary. The school was built on property that had belonged to the Tenney family on Highland Avenue. In commemoration, the softball field is now named “Tenney Field” for the family.  In 1963, 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th graders occupied the newly built school, with freshman joining the following year. In 1969, the vocational center, which now hosts 400 juniors and seniors from 7 surrounding districts, was added to the school.



This art is part of the school’s beautification project. New art is now throughout the school, including many small wooden figures made to look as if they are doing funny things and making funny faces. The school is making a bigger effort to use the art students make around the school such as paintings and sculptures. The committee in charge of the project has also painted and added interesting signs throughout the school.

The gold- colored trophy in the middle is the 2011 Football Division I State Champions trophy. Hartford High School has an excellent football program as well as several other wonderful sports teams. This championship win is the 3^rd of 4 in the past four years. Also, this year the girls’ basketball team won the Division II State Championship. The room in which this picture was taken is filled with various trophies won over year of sports in Hartford. The walls of the gym at HHS are covered in banners of many sports accomplishments throughout the years.

This photo shows reflection in both in the window and in the gold trophy. The photo is divided into thirds by each of the three trophies. The gold football trophy bisects the photo both vertically and horizontally. There is some contrast between the wooden frame and the wall.



The symbol for a hurricane warning has been adopted by the students of Hartford. The warning is now used at many sporting events as a message to the other teams to beware. This one is painted on trashcan at the front entrance but they can be found on flags, shirts and face-paint.

Hartford High School is very proud to be known as the Hurricanes. In 1938 a hurricane hit Hartford. The storm traveled up the Connecticut River through New England and provided over two inches of rain per hour. Nearby, 163 mph winds were recorded. The hurricane resulted in 682 deaths (obviously not just in Hartford).  School rumors say that until that storm, Hartford’s mascot was “The Midgets”.