The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Meriden

MERIDEN, Conn., city, in New Haven County, on branches of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, about midway between Hartford and New Haven. Originally the town of Meriden was a part of Wallingford until 1806, when the town of Meriden was incorporated. In 1867 it was granted a city charter. It is situated in an agricultural region, but the city is noted for its large number of manufactories. Some of the principal manufactures are cutlery, silver and plated ware, steel pens, hardware, machinery, screws, vises, glassware, cut glass, malleable iron, bronzes, firearms, brass castings, curtain fixtures, gas and kerosene fixtures, self-playing attachments for pianos and organs, woodenware, tinware, granite, agateware, lamp trimmings, etc. The shipments are principally manufactured articles,cles, fruit, vegetables and tobacco. The educational institutions are the public and parish schools, a high school and the Curtis Memorial Library. It has the Curtis Home for Orphan Children and Aged Women, the Connecticut School for Boys and the Meriden Hospital. The government is administered under a charter of 1897. The mayor, who holds office two years, appoints fire and park commissioners, board of taxation and apportionment, police and board of public works. The council elects the health officer, board of compensation, tax collector, plumbing inspector, boiler inspector and fire marshal. The treasurer, sheriff, clerk and auditor are chosen by popular vote. Pop. 31,000.