A Biography of Curtis H. Veeder

Prior to becoming the “home” of the Connecticut Historical Society, One Elizabeth Street was the residence of Curtis H. Veeder and his family.  Born in Alleghany, Pennsylvania in 1862, Veeder earned his Masters of Engineering from Lehigh University and worked various jobs in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Michigan before settling in Hartford and opening the Veeder Manufacturing Company in 1895.

Veeder’s interest in inventing began at an early age. He received his first patent at 18 years old for the design of a bicycle seat. A bicycle cyclometer, allowing riders to measure how far they had traveled, was the first product manufactured by the Veeder Manufacturing Company. In 1928, Veeder’s Company merged with the Root Company of Bristol, CT.  Veeder-Root Inc. is still in operation today and continues to produce counting devices.

In 1908, Veeder married Louise Stutz, a teacher at Hartford Public High School who had moved to the United States from Switzerland in 1896.   The couple had two daughters, Josephine Adair Veeder and Dorothy Irving Veeder.  Their home on Elizabeth Street, which included such luxuries as a personal car-wash, an elevator, and a built-in vacuum system, was completed in 1928.

Following the death of her husband in 1943, Louise Stutz Veeder continued to reside at the family home until 1950.  She then sold the building and property to the Connecticut Historical Society, which previously shared quarters with the Wadsworth Atheneum.  Renovations and additions to the original building in 1951, 1956, and 1971 provided CHS with additional storage space for collections and an auditorium for programs.

 Visit the Connecticut Historical Society to learn more about Curtis H. Veeder, his family, and the building that was once his home.  The CHS museum and research center are open Tuesday-Friday from 12:00 pm-5:00 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am-5:00 pm.