Marietta Canty House

The Marietta Canty House stands in a residential area in Hartford's Clay-Arsenal neighborhood, north of the downtown. It is on the south side of Mahl Avenue, just east of its junction with Bethel Avenue. It is one of a row of similar vernacular Queen Anne two-family houses built by developer Frederick Mahl between 1893 and 1897. It is a 2-1/2 story wood frame structure, with a gabled roof and exterior clad in vinyl siding. It is two bays wide, with a formerly two-story (now single-story) porch sheltering the entrance on the right bay. Although the building is not architecturally distinguished, its interior retains original finishes and materials, including staircases, trim, gas lighting fixtures, and fireplaces.[2]

The house was purchased in 1930 by Mary and Henry Canty. Henry Canty, who worked as a janitor for the city, was a prominent member of Hartford's African American community, a devout Christian attending Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and an active canvasser for the Republican Party. He was also a prominent community activist, helping to organize community clubs for African Americans when the local YMCA would not admit them, and helping to run Camp Bennett, a summer camp for urban youth in Glastonbury.[2]

Canty's daughter Marietta appeared on stage on Broadway and elsewhere, and had more than 40 film roles, including parts in Rebel without a Cause, The Bad and the Beautiful and Lady in the Dark. Her typical film role was that of a domestic servant. She ended her acting career in 1951, and returned to Hartford, where she was active in community affairs and politics. She was twice a candidate for Hartford's city council.[2]

The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.[1]

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Hartford, Connecticut