The Cradle of American Seed Companies

The Cradle of American Seed Companies. . , The seed industry was not a particularly prosperous enterprise in the early 1800s, as most farmers tended to preserve their own seeds. As the U.S. population exploded, so did the need for seed. In the early 19th century Wethersfield entrepreneurs established an industry that would supply good seeds from Wethersfield crops quickly and conveniently to farmers and gardeners across New England and beyond., In time the seed business grew to replace shipbuilding and onion exports in Wethersfield. The emergence of the seed business was timed perfectly, as the development of the railroad connected more of the country and could ship more affordable crops from the West providing competition. The seed businesses transformed the inner village of Wethersfield, as large commercial seed gardens and seed houses were constructed behind houses and barns on the main roads. At various times, Wethersfield has been home to ten seed companies and has come to be known as the cradle of American seed companies., When the Wethersfield seed industry began much of the Town was still open land, and seed growers owned their own acreage or contracted local farmers to produce seed. Acres and acres of vegetables, flowers and herbs were growing throughout the surrounding fields producing fresh seeds for sale throughout the country., The Chas. C. Hart Seed Company , The long history of seed companies on this site began in 1852 with the Butler N. Strong and Co. It became successively, Johnson, Robbins and Co. in 1855 and then the Chas. C. Hart Co. moved to the property in 1894., The Chas. C. Hart Seed Company was founded by Charles C. Hart in 1892. Mr. Hart had been connected with the Johnson, Robbins Company for fourteen years. He began his own small consignment seed package business in the kitchen of his home where he utilized the space as a packing room, office and warehouse. In 1894, Mr. Hart took on a partner, Frank J. Welles and formed Hart, Welles and Co. They soon purchased the Johnson, Robbins and Co. buildings and, as business increased requiring more space, moved into the building here on Main Street., The wood frame buildings of the Hart Seed Company were destroyed by a fire in 1943, and replaced with a brick office-warehouse complex at the same location., Today, the company is owned and operated by members of the fifth generation of the Hart family making it the oldest seed company in America still owned by the family that founded it. The iconic Hart Seed Display Rack, designed in the style of earlier Wethersfield seed commission boxes, is still seen in stores today., Other Wethersfield Seed Companies , Other firms that were involved in the Wethersfield seed industry: , 1811 - Belden advertised “New Garden Seeds of the Growth of 1810” , 1820 – James L. Belden operated Wethersfield Seed Gardens until 1838 when it was purchased by Franklin G. Comstock. , 1845 – Comstock, Ferre and Co. became the new name of this thriving seed business. , 1845 – Thos. Griswold and Co. was established and operated on Maple Street in South Wethersfield until 1931 when it was purchased by Comstock, Ferre and Co. , 1852 – Butler N. Strong and Co. was later absorbed into the Johnson, Robbins and Co. , 1855 – The Johnson, Robbins and Co. operated until purchased by Charles C. Hart in 1894. Silas W. Robbins, one of the Town’s most prominent citizens was president for over 20 years. , 1869 – William Meggat and Samuel Wolcott engaged in growing garden seed from Wolcott Hill. In 1874, Meggat purchased property on Hartford Avenue where Sacred Heart Church now stands and opened business as William Meggat, Seed Grower. The business operated for about 30 years. , 1877 – Egbert Decker was in business until 1894 when it was purchased by Hart, Welles and Co., (image captions) , Frank Welles and Charles Hart, c 1894, courtesy Hart Seed Co. , Hart Seed Company c. 1918, courtesy Hart Seed Co. , Seed catalogue, 1853