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The Merritt Parkway - Connecticut's National Historic Road

This Exhibit: | View Digital Collections | Resources and Links |

Background

Controversy and Scandal

The Merritt Parkway Opens

About this Exhibit

To learn the story of the Merritt Parkway, select from the list of topics above.

To view digital images of materials included in this exhibit, choose the "View Digital Collections," link near the top of the page.

Resources and Links

Published Sources:

  • Cross, Wilbur L. "Stormy Weather." Chap. XXXVII in Connecticut Yankee: An Autobiography. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1943 [CSL call number F 100 .C7 A3 1943].  This is the governor’s personal account of the controversy surrounding the construction and funding of the Parkway. 
  • Larned, Larry, Route 15; The Road to Hartford. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2002 [CSL call number TE 25 .M45 L369 2002 ].
  •            .  Traveling the Merritt Parkway. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 1998 [CSL call number TE 25 .M45 L37 1998].  These two books by Larned contain excellent photographic histories that can supplement the HABS/HAER report.
  • Radde, Bruce, The Merritt Parkway. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1993 [CSL call number TE 25 .M45 R33 1993].  This is a book about the planning, construction, financing and opening of the Parkway. It contains stunning color photographs.

Government Reports and Archival Records:

Newspapers:

  • Associated Press, “Board Backs Parkway for Historic Status,” Hartford Courant, February 8, 1991 [CSL call number AN 104 .H3 C69 Mfilm].
  • Associated Press, “Merritt Parkway, Opened in 1940, Designated a Scenic Road,” Hartford Courant, May 5, 1993 [CSL call number AN 104 .H3 C69 Mfilm].
  • Atwood, Frank, “Cross Opens Road Named for Merritt,” Hartford Courant, June 30, 1938, digital images, Historical Hartford Courant 1923-1984 ( http://www.il.proquest.com/ : 1 May 2008).
  • Brown, Lauren, “Celebrating the Merritt, a Parkway Pioneer,” New York Times, September 26, 1993, digital images, Historical New York Times 1857-Current File (http://www.il.proquest.com/ : 1 May 2008).  
  • “Burns of DOT Guarantees Parkway Won’t Have 8 Lanes,” Bridgeport Post, November 13, 1973, digital images, Access Newspaper Archives (http://access.newspaperarchive.com/ : 1 May 2008).
  • “Everything Set for Opening of Merritt Parkway,” Norwalk Hour, June 28, 1938 [CSL call number AN 104 .N9 H6 Mfilm].
  • Kelly, John P., “Mayor Panuzio Reports After Conference – Meskill Orders Speedup in Plans for Parkway, RTES. 25-8 Linkage," Bridgeport Post, January 17, 1974, digital images, Access Newspaper Archives (http://access.newspaperarchive.com/ : 1 May 2008).
  • Loecher, Barbara, “At Age 50, the Merritt Faces a Fight for Its Future,” New York Times, August 5, 1990, digital images, Historical New York Times 1857-Current File (http://www.il.proquest.com/ : 1 May 2008).
  • “Officially Open Parkway Today,” Norwalk Hour, June 29, 1938 [CSL call number AN 104 .N9 H6 Mfilm].
  • “The Parkway of Dreams,” Hartford Courant, February 7, 1991 [CSL call number AN 104 .H3 C69 Mfilm].
  • Schiffman, Barry, “Merritt Parkway’s Beauty Still Intact,” Hartford Courant August 24, 1975, digital images, Historical Hartford Courant 1923-1984 ( http://www.il.proquest.com/ : 1 May 2008).
  • “3,000 Attend Merritt Parkway Opening,” Norwalk Hour, June 30, 1938 [CSL call number AN 104 .N9 H6 Mfilm].
  • “20,000,000 Merritt Parkway Formally Opened to Public in Simple, Impressive Ceremonies,” Stamford Advocate, June 30, 1938 [CSL call number AN 104 .S8 A38 Mfilm].

Links: