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I got paid today for some legal work I did for a client, so to treat myself, I used part of it to get *this* paperweight, which is from 1964, the year the Travelers Insurance Company celebrated its centenary. The famous Travelers Tower, of course, dominates this rendition of the firm's complex in downtown Hartford. It is (that is, the real building, not the paperweight!) 527 feet high, and amazingly was the 7th tallest building in the entire world when it was completed in 1919; it's still Hartford's 2nd-tallest building. As 
Perfesser-Bear noted in my previous geekery post, the man who designed this also designed the HQ for The Hartford Times, not far away.
Perfesser-Bear noted in my previous geekery post, the man who designed this also designed the HQ for The Hartford Times, not far away.
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The alleyway between the prosaically named Main Street Building and the Tower Building was known as Grove Street, as if there was a tree within a quarter mile of it. It is next to the 53 Prospect Street entrance, on the far (East) side in this view. In January, 2013, that block-long section was renamed Bob Steele Street. I worked in the Main Street and Prospect Street Buildings, and in One Financial Plaza, "The Gold Building," across Main. I never worked in the Tower Building.
Long before they selected the red umbrella as their corporate symbol, The Travelers had a Knight in Shining Armor.
Long before they selected the red umbrella as their corporate symbol, The Travelers had a Knight in Shining Armor.
Based on this view, in this photo, I think we're hovering somewhere over the Ancient Burying Ground, with Main Street directly in front of us, and (as you say) Bob Steele Street in the centre of the photo. Tower Square and Travelers Plaza would be at the right. Financial Plaza would be in front of the two buildings at left. The Old State House is just out of shot to the left.
It's surprisingly hard to find an image of the knight logo.
It's surprisingly hard to find an image of the knight logo.
Right -- we're facing across Main, Prospect, then Front Street and the Connecticut River. You're right, that is from the vantage point of the Ancient Burying Ground (please return the jet pack to the Props Department). I have some photos of the graveyard, but they're pretty bad and the reflections from the Gold Building don't help much. I need to return with a good camera and a reflector, to keep the shadows where I want them.
Hmm... A mention of it in History.
Ooh, looky what I found!
Also:
Travelers Insurance Company exhibit, 1909 Boston Auto Show
Antique Gorham Co knight bronze bookends for Travelers Insurance, 10 lbs, 1931 (click on "See original listing")
Similar but nicer: 201. Gorham Bronze Bookends, "Palm Beach 1931"
Ooh, looky what I found!
Also:
Travelers Insurance Company exhibit, 1909 Boston Auto Show
Antique Gorham Co knight bronze bookends for Travelers Insurance, 10 lbs, 1931 (click on "See original listing")
Similar but nicer: 201. Gorham Bronze Bookends, "Palm Beach 1931"
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