A grant from Connecticut Humanities will fund a new exhibit at the Noah Webster House about the history of West Hartford business.

This photo was taken in West Hartford in 1966 when the town was documenting business sign violations and will be part of an exhibit about the history of commerce in West Hartford. Photo courtesy of Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society

By Ronni Newton

The history of West Hartford business will be the focus of a new exhibit – funded by a grant from Connecticut Humanities – that is set to open in May at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society.

The $4,990 grant to support “West Hartford Business: Images of Suburban Development,” which will feature more than 45 images and artifacts, was announced by Connecticut Humanities last week. Connecticut Humanities announced that it will provide a total of $210,000 in grants to 10 organizations in eight communities throughout the state in this round of funding, including the grant for the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society.

“The museum is thrilled to have received funds from Connecticut Humanities for a new ‘West Hartford Business: Images of Suburban Development’ exhibit,” said Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society Executive Director Jennifer DiCola Matos.

The exhibit, which opens May 25 and will be on display through Oct. 2, examines the history of commerce in West Hartford. “The exhibit will highlight a collection of photographs taken in 1966 by the Town of West Hartford to document business sign violations. Fifty years later, these images not only provide great insight into everyday life in West Hartford in 1966, but also provoke a conversation about why certain businesses have flourished, failed or adapted over time,” Matos said.

Matos provided a sampling of some of the images in the exhibit, including the one shown above, but said she’s not sure what about this particular signage was in violation.

The exhibit’s opening will be held in conjunction with the museum’s annual meeting on May 25, Matos said. The annual meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m., and will include a talk by Mayor Scott Slifka on the history of West Hartford business.

Following the meeting, the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, which is co-sponsoring the exhibit, will also be doing a ribbon-cutting for one of West Hartford’s newest businesses – the Iron & Grain Company food truck. Matos said the ribbon-cutting will likely be in the parking lot.

“West Hartford Business: Images of Suburban Development” will be on display from May 25  through Oct. 2 and will be available for loan after that time, Matos said.

For details about other organizations receiving grants from this round of Connecticut Humanities funding, visit cthumanities.org.

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