The First 9-1-1 Call Involved a Horrible 1878 Train Wreck in a River

It ranks as among the deadliest train crashes in Connecticut history. It also marked the first time in the U.S. that a telephone was used to summon help after a disaster, essentially the first 9-1-1 call in the country’s history. The Tariffville Train Wreck occurred when railroads were at their peak. On the icy cold night of January 15, 1878, a train full of passengers were heading home from a religious revival in Hartford. As they crossed the Farmington River, with its five inches of ice, the bridge collapsed and sent dozens into the ice-cold waters below. Rescuers couldn’t easily access the remote location. The story is told by Frank Haviland, Member of the Board of the Tariffville Village Association and a noted researcher on this event.