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As a full time field salesman in Connecticut I most often grab lunch in my car.  While in New Britain I decided to drive over to Walnut Hill Park so I could sit in my car and relax during lunch hour.  While there I noticed that their outdoor theatre was rather interesting looking.  As a result I took the attached photo.

On Monday and Wednesday nights in July and August, the New Britain Parks and Recreation Department in Connecticut hosts a free summer music concert series. For a schedule of events please go to: http://www.new-britain.net/liv_prknrec.html.

The second most important structure in Walnut Hill Park is the Darius Miller Music Shell, built in 1939 using funds provided by a testamentary gift in trust of $75,000 by Darius Miller, a Main Street merchant. (Photograph 8.) The shell, 65 feet wide and 28 feet deep, of stucco, is constructed to the design of Harold Field Kellogg who was the architect for four such structures in the eastern part of the United States patterned after the principles enunciated in the Hollywood Bowl to project the sound in an outdoor environment. The Darius Miller shell was destroyed by firein 1966 and was promptly-^ rebuilt to the original design.  A platform was added in front, for dancing, and a tier of ten rows of seats was built in the slope in front of the shell at this time. The shell continues to be used actively during the summer for a variety of concerts and other performances.” Excerpt from: National Register of Historic Inventory Nomination Form.

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3 Comments

  1. Hello,
    I found your photography online after searching for information on the Darius Miller Music Shell, and quickly became a big fan.
    Your work is great. I’m a hobbyist photographer in New Britain –

    I kept some of my photos at http://www.cargocollective.com/christianlemp, but most of my work is offline at the moment.

    I wonder if you would be interested to take a look at a project I’ve been working on in New Britain called New Britain Wiki (http://www.newbritainwiki.org). It’s an open source community wiki, developed by http://www.localwiki.org. If you have a minute please take a took. Maybe you would even like to contribute some photos to the site?

    Thank you. I really enjoy your photography.
    -Christian

  2. Very well done and near perfect symmetry.

  3. Excellent shot. Near perfect symmetry.

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