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.
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 |
Early life and family
editHarstrom 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
editHe 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
editIn 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
edit- 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
editReferences
edit- ^ The Highland Democrat
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x 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
