Hamilton's Flight, also, Urban Escapes. The Birdman of New Britain, also, Our Parks. , Hamilton's Flight , One of the liveliest days in New Britain's history was “Hamilton Day”, July 2, 1910. On that day, an intrepid 24-year-old New Britain aviator, Charles K. Hamilton, completed the first winged flight in Connecticut, in front of a vast crowd assembled in Walnut Hill Park. The Wright Brothers had made their historic flight only a few years earlier (1903). Lindbergh would not fly his transatlantic route until 1927. , An estimated 50,000 visitors came from New Britain and across the state to witness Hamilton's feats. In the words of the next day's New Britain Herald, Hamilton “leaped from the ground opposite the governor's stand and swooped higher and higher into the air. There were cheers and cries of ecstasy from the crowds. Men pounded each other on the back and women looked on in awe and gratification.” During his 15-minute flight, he performed figure-eight maneuvers and other crowd-pleasing stunts. , At a time when aviators were heroes, Hamilton was among the best of the “birdmen” who were embracing the new sport of flying. Known as “the crazy man of the air”, he was said to have been without fear. One of his most popular stunts was the “dive of death”, when he would spiral towards the ground, pulling up at the last instant. On June 15, 1910 Hamilton acquired a national reputation by making a record-breaking flight from Governor's Island, New York to Philadelphia. Since he was carrying letters between the two cities, the Associated Press also credited him with the “first fast aerial mail”. , Mr. Hamilton earned a solid place in aviation history with other accomplishments. In addition to the New York to Philadelphia flight, he also flew in a dirigible over Japan, was the first aviator to fly out of the country (over Mexico), the first to fly at night, and the first to fly over a major body of water (the Pacific Ocean). His last recorded flight was in a staged “duel” in 1912 at the Berlin fairgrounds. His opponent was Nels Nelson, another New Britain aviator. , 1910 served as the climax of Hamilton's career, as injuries he sustained in sixty air crashes finally caught up with him. In 1912, he formed the “Hamilton Aviation Company” vowing to turn New Britain into the “greatest aviation center in the world”. It was not to be. Disproving the predictions of many who said that he would die in flight, Hamilton died of tuberculosis on January 22, 1914 at the age of twenty-eight. His family buried the local daredevil, Charles K. Hamilton, in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, Connecticut. , [Captions (top to bottom)] , . Crowds gathered in Walnut Hill Park on June 2, 1910 (sic) to watch New Britain native and famous aviation pioneer, Charles K. Hamilton, as he winged overhead. This was the first fight to take place in not only the state of Connecticut, but all of New England. (Local History, NBPL) , . The 25-year-old Hamilton was known as something of a daredevil, renowned for dangerous dives, and spectacular crashes. He survived over sixty such crashes before succumbing to tuberculosis at the age of 28. (Local History, NBPL) , . Early aircraft, like the one used by Hamilton in Walnut Hill Park, were quite basic and had little in the way of safety features. (Local History, NBPL) , Urban Escapes , New Britain's park system is a great source of pride to its residents. Few cities of New Britain's size are blessed with its abundance of parks and open space. Park development in the city began early, guided by men and women of foresight, and as a result over 1,200 acres in New Britain are devoted this magnificent resource. New Britain has the highest ratio of parkland to total land area of any other city in Connecticut. , The formation of the park system began in 1857 with the planning for what was to become Walnut Hill Park. In 1870, the landscape architecture firm of Olmsted and Vaux was retained to design the park. In 1908, the Olmsted Brothers firm was engaged to make further recommendations. , As New Britain grew in size and stature so did its park system. In 1914 the city purchased land for Stanley Quarter Park. Thomas Sears, a prominent Philadelphia landscape architect, who was a member of Harvard University's first graduating class in the field of landscape architecture, developed the original design plans for Stanley Quarter Park, which included the lake, drives, and naturalistic plantings. Today Stanley Quarter Park is known for the city's annual 4th of July celebration, The Great American Boom. , From 1917 to 1921 park planners acquired the land for Willow Brook Park, which historically had been the site of grist mills and a German-American recreational area. The property included an excellent trout stream (Willow Brook) that attracted anglers for miles. In 1922, city officials commissioned landscape architect Thomas Desmond of Simsbury to design the new facility. Today the park is a major sports complex, home to Beehive Stadium, New Britain Stadium, and Veterans Memorial Stadium. High school and professional level baseball are played at both Beehive Stadium and New Britain Stadium. Veterans Memorial Stadium has hosted major league soccer (MLS), USA Track and Field state meets, high school football games and New England regional band competitions. Veterans Stadium now boasts synthetic turf, a 9-lane track with dual chutes, and throwing areas. , In 1928, Alix W. Stanley, former president of the Stanley Rule and Level Company, donated land for the sprawling A.W. Stanley Park. Designed in a naturalistic style, active recreational facilities have been added over the years. Today A.W. Stanley Park offers a wide range of amenities including a swimming pool, ball fields, lake, and walking trails. Land for Stanley Golf Course was also donated by Alix Stanley in 1928. Stanley Golf Course boasts a 27-hole course with a lighted and heated driving range. , Most of the land that is known as Martha Hart Park was a gift to the city from Mr. E. Allen Moore with additional land donated by Klingberg Children's Home. Moore, a one-time president of The Stanley Works, purchased the property, including Doerr's Pond. The pond had been dug in the late 1800s to provide for ice production. The park acquired its name in 1947, in honor of Mr. Moore's wife, Martha Hart Moore. , Chesley Park and Osgood Park are both smaller parks in the city that were developed for sports and active recreation. Chesley Park was named as a memorial to George L. Chesley, Superintendent of Parks from 1929-1963. In 2007 the city re-created the area which is now called Willow Street Park. The park was designed by New Britain landscape architects, TO Design, who over the years have made significant improvements to many of the city's parks from Walnut Hill Park to Stanley Quarter Park. Willow Street Park is a prime example of the emphasis the city places on providing its citizens great public spaces as this park was developed on the abandoned site of an old housing complex. The park now features a splashpad with over 15 water features, shuffleboard and bocce court, recreation field, basketball courts and a picnic pavilion. , [Captions (top to bottom)] , . Tens of thousands from all over assembled at Stanley Quarter for the “Great American Boom”, New Britain's 4th of July celebration. , . New Britain's emblematic red and gold adorn both the field and the stands of Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Willow Brook Park. , . Above is a postcard showing Stanley Quarter Park as it looked in the 1920s. To the right is a postcard of A.W. Stanley Park. Highlighted is the man-made, 4.5-acre Cat Tail Pond that served as a swimming area before construction of a swimming pool in the mid-1960s. (Local History, NBPL)