Group of men sit and stand among weeds in front of a small vertical-boarded wooden building, possibly a shed or cabin. Some men have beards or mustaches. Some wear eyeglasses. Some smoke pipes or cigars. Two wear aprons. One wears what appears to be a chef's hat. Several wear vests with watch chains. Inscribed on back: "Aetna Life Employees at Pop Merritt's dinner." "7. George Holcomb ... / 10. Newell ... / 15. Joel English / 16. C.E. Gilbert / 17. M.B. Brainard / 18. 'Pop' Merritt / 19. Bushnell." Other numbers are listed but spaces following are blank.

George 'Pop' Merritt joined Aetna Life shortly after his return from the Civil War. He was famous for his cooking and for hosting dinners. He lived in Hartford at the corner of Kenyon Street and Fern Street. Dinners were held at the week-end cabins on Talcott Mountain, the Brainard Farm on Albany Avenue, and once or twice at the Spring Brook Ice Company pond in Wethersfield.

1930

Hartford County (Conn.)

Industrial recreation
Insurance companies -- Employees

Source extent: 1 photographic print ; 20 x 25 cm.

Reproduction and copyright information regarding this image is available from The Graphics Collection, The Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford.

Accession number 1959.39.3
2480 img0084.pcd

http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:12121