08/15/2025
Hello everyone! This is Randi. I recently had the amazing opportunity to join Troy, Karina, and Amar for a tour of the “secret” 4th floor and basement of City Hall, and it was such a blast! It felt like stepping into a museum.
Here are some of my favorite highlights:
Ordinance Book📖: The picture of the cursive writing showcases an ordinance book from the late 1800s.
Insurance Book📖: The large open book with pink boxes is an insurance book detailing the properties and streets of Hartford.
Laboratory Door👩🔬: The door you see used to lead to a laboratory where tuberculosis was tested and studied.
Grateful Dead Merchandise🎤: The cartoonish male figures are from merchandise at a Grateful Dead concert in the 1970s, and I even got to keep the pink stinker!
Carrie Saxon Perry's Hat🎩: My absolute favorite is the hat that belonged to Carrie Saxon Perry, Hartford’s first Black female mayor! I felt like a fan girl holding onto a piece of history. I first learned about her from my mom, who always celebrates Black History Month and shares important facts about Black history at the schools she worked at, with Mayor Perry being a prominent figure.
I am incredibly grateful for this fellowship experience. I've learned so much, met fantastic people, made valuable connections, and created unforgettable memories.
This is Randi Nelson signing off. Wishing everyone a wonderful rest of your summer!💐🤎✨
