Thomas Snell Weaver was born on February 5, 1845 in Willimantic, Connecticut, the son of William L. Weaver and Lois Snell weaver. His father was a well known teacher, book seller and writer. At 14 he entered the office of ‘The Willimantic Journal” where his father was the editor, and learned the printer’s trade. He later worked at the “Worcester Daily Press” writing news and editorials and in 1873 became the telegraph editor of the “New Haven Register”. Mr. Weaver became highly regarded for his terse pungent prose and was apparently highly quoted. In 1882 he worked for the “Boston Globe” as a political writer and on May 1, 1893 came to Hartford to work at the “Hartford Post” and then “The Courant’. Contemporary accounts report that his insights and comments were very well received.

In June of 1901 he became superintendent of the Hartford schools. It was reported that” When he assumed charge of the school board office he carried the records from the office of his predecessor, Judge Herbert S. Bullard, to the board quarters in the First National Bank building, where the office remained until removed to a room in the building of the Connecticut Mutual Life Ins. Co. When the Municipal Building was erected (in 1915) the office went there. As superintendent Mr. Weaver signed diplomas for classes which graduated from high school. In 1900 the number was about 100. In 1919 it was about 350.”

Mr. Weaver was on the Hartford Parks Commission and at one time served as its president.

Mr. Weaver died at his home at 35 Beacon Street on February 8, 1922 at the age of 77.

The city’s newest high school was built in 1922 at 25 Ridgefield Street. It was named in tribute to Thomas Snell Weaver. On June 21, 1924 a memorial tablet to Mr. Weaver was unveiled in the lobby of the Ridgefield Street School. Given by the teachers and school children of Hartford it was designed by Louis A. Goldenrod of Meriden.

In the late 1960’s the Hartford Board of Education began planning for new modern school buildings including a new Bulkeley High School on Wethersfield Avenue and a new Weaver High School on Granby Street. The architects of both schools were Caudill Rowlett and Scott. The new Weaver High School has five floors and 382,250 square feet, to accommodate 2,600 students. Weaver High School opened on September 9, 1974.

Faude, W. (2011). Thomas Snell Weaver High School. The Names of Hartford’s Public Schools  and other historical notes (page 30).  Project Historian, Hartford History Center Hartford Public Library. (Original work published January 28, 2011).