Carl Axel Harstrom | |
|---|---|
| 16th Mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut | |
| In office October 13, 1915 [1] – 1917 | |
| Preceded by | Francis Irwin Burnell |
| Succeeded by | Jeremiah Donovan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 20, 1863
[2] Västerås, Sweden [2] |
| Died | January 24, 1926 (aged 62)
[3] Norwalk, Connecticut [3] |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lee Selden Partridge [2](d . August 27, 1926) [3] |
| Children | Frances (b. 1890), Carl Eric (b. 1892) [2] |
| Residence(s) | Norwalk, Connecticut |
| Alma mater |
Peekskill Military Academy (1880) Hobart College (A.B., 1886; M.A., 1889) [4] Yale College (1899, PhD.) [2] |
| Occupation | educator |
Carl Axel Harstrom (December 20, 1863 – January 24, 1926) was an American educator, and one-term Republican mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut, from 1915 to 1917.
Early life and family
Harstrom was born in Västerås, Sweden. [2] He was the son of Carl Gustaf and Amelia Adolphina Fosberg Harstrom. [2] [5] His father was a manufacturer in Sweden who brought his family to America in 1872, when Carl Axel was nine years of age. [2] He attended the Peekskill Military Academy, and graduated in 1880. [2] He taught school for two years before entering Hobart College. [2] He graduated as valedictory orator [4] and with magna cum laude honors. [2] He earned an A.B in 1886, and an M.A. in 1889. [2] [5] He served as headmaster at the Peekskill Academy for three years, and principle of Vienland Preparatory School for four years. [2] On June 20, 1888, Professor Harstrom married Lee Selden Partridge of Phelps, New York. [2] [5]
Life in Norwalk
He moved to Norwalk in 1891 to take a position as headmaster of the Norwalk Military Academy. [2] He started his own private preparatory school for boys in Norwalk in 1893. [2]
While teaching and serving as headmaster, he also pursued his own education at Yale University in classical Philology from 1896 to 1899. He earned his PhD in 1899. [2] [5] He was a member of Theta Delta Chi, and served as its national president for five consecutive terms. [2]
Political career
In Norwalk, he served as a member of the Board of Estimate. [5] In 1915, Harstrom was elected mayor of Norwalk and served a two-year term. During his term of office he reconstructed the financial system, with the result of making it more transparent to the public. [5] He is credited with introducing voting machines to Norwalk. [5] He is also credited for the many miles of hard pavement laid during his term. [5]
During the World War he was chairman of the local draft board. [5] He was a founding board member of the Norwalk Savings Bank and of the Fairfield County Savings Bank. [5]
Associations
- Member, American Philological Association [2] [5]
- Member, Phi Beta Kappa Society [2] [4]
- Member, Yale Club of New York City [2] [5]
- Member, Norwalk Club [2] [5]
- Member, Knob Outing Club of Norwalk [2]
- Vestryman, Grace Episcopal Church [2] [5]
- President of the Grand Lodge, Theta Delta Chi [4]
- Member, Senior Warden, Master Mason (1917), Worshipful Master (1922), St. John's Lodge No. 6, Free and Accepted Masons [6]
Awards
- Valedictorian, Hobart College [4]
- Horace White Essay Prize [4]
- Junior Greek Prize [4]
- Senior Debate Prize [4]
- Phi Beta Kappa [4]
References
- ^ The Highland Democrat
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Men of Mark
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
public domain.
- ^ a b c Obituary - Mrs. Lee Selden Harstrom
- ^ a b c d e f g h i The Shield
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens; (Volume 11).
- ^ The Norwalk Hour