HARTFORD – Two visitors from Hertford, England stepped into the Hartford Town Office on Thursday morning as part of their tour of U.S. towns named Hartford.

Brits Keith Marshall and Sue Dickson were warmly greeted by Town Clerk Lianne Bedard and Lorraine Parsons, who was dressed as David Parsons, one of the first settlers of the town in 1788.

“I’m happy to meet Lianne as we have conversed on the phone a few times,” Marshall said. “With the time difference it has been hard to connect, but she has been helpful to set up our visit.”

The area as “beautiful,” he said, “unlike our Hertford where it is so crowded. The buildings are so close, nothing is made of wood for fire safety reasons.”

“The lakes we passed coming from Auburn were just lovely” Dickson said.

When asked about gas prices in England, Marshall said, “I believe it would be close to $8 in American money.”

The two Brits have visited 12 of the 36 U.S. towns named Hartford over the last seven years.

Hartford, Maine has a population of a little more than 1,000 and was incorporated in 1798.

Hertford, England was settled in 55 B.C. and has a current population of more than 22,000.

The English visitors received gifts of maple syrup made by Rosie Henderson and an early American miniature wood set made by Earl Turner.

Bedard received gifts for the town from Marshall consisting of a Hertford cup, T-shirt, tea towel and assorted souvenirs.

Historical Society members Beulah Brown, Sandra Cowett and Turner opened the J and O Irish Museum for a tour. The museum is open during the summer and is set up in the manner of the general store which was open until 1947. The upstairs was home for the Irish family, the original settlers, and the rooms are furnished with furniture and appliances of that era. A rare desk organ sits it a room where stage coaches once unloaded supplies.

Early enterprises included a brick yard, corn shop for canning and making cans, mineral spring water, salt box factory, feed and grain, general merchandise and a rake factory. The Nezinscot River was the site of excelsior, shingle and grist mills, and the sawmills that supplied lumber for the buildings.

Hertford, England is located on three rivers where deer or hart were once seen crossing from the nearby forest. Hartford, Maine still has deer crossing the Nezinscot, which divides Sumner from Hartford.

Marshall and Dickson spent the day in Hartford, and are continuing their tour.