Test your knowledge of West Hartford history with this ‘Thursday Throwback,’ courtesy of the Noah Webster House and West Hartford Historical Society.
By Ronni Newton
It’s Throwback Thursday (#tbt), and time to take a look back into West Hartford’s past to either stir up some memories, reflect on how much things have changed, or both. And if you have no idea, we love the photo captions, too!
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Last week’s photo (at right and in larger size below) was obviously of Pratt & Whitney, but less obvious was where this building was located and when the photo was taken.
Most of our readers got the neighborhood correct, and some also got the exact location right!
Rob Rowlson was the first to comment, and had the complete details: “Well this is on New Park Ave. bordered by Flatbush and Talcott Rd. WWII saw this space develop and later it became Chandler Evans. Closed and vacant for many, many years (1980?) it later became the Home Depot/ BJ’s property. This was a very hotly contested zoning application which went to Court. So much to this story.”
Alexandra Everson had some family ties to this business: “My father worked for Pratt & Whitney for over 35 years til he retired. I know that he went to the plant in East Hartford. I assume they moved from this location to there.”
Greg Book had some very specific details to share, and although he was off by one year on the completion of construction (it was 1940), he was spot on with everything else: “Pratt & Whitney built this plant on the site of the old race track on New Park Avenue in WH in 1939, after moving from their plant on Capital Ave in Hartford. This entrance sign would have been facing the current Charter Oak Elementary school and the picture was probably taken in the 1970s. This was the tool and die company, they shared a name with the aircraft engine manufacturer located in East Hartford, but they were entirely separate companies. The company moved to Bloomfield in early 90s, and the site became the BJs/HomeDepot site it is now, with Colt occupying part of the former buildings. There used to be a railroad spur that went to the plant that crossed New Park Ave approximately where East/West Grill is now.”
Those who commented on Facebook correctly identified the location as New Park Avenue, and Betty Healey said this was “before the stack was imploded.” Did anyone watch that happen?
Rick Liftig added his comments on Facebook, and had some great detail: “Pratt and Whitney Machine Tool was the progenitor of Pratt and Whitney Aircraft. Rentschler sold the idea of a specialized aircraft engine to MTD sometime in the early 1920’s. They backed PW Aircraft which broke off from MTD in 1929. The plant was located at the corner of Talcott Road and New Park on the old Luna Park property. The cars in the photo appear to be 1970s vintage. P&wmtd probably closed about fifteen years ago, losing market share as manufacturing in the US relocated offshore.”
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
For this week we have a very timely photo (at right and in larger size below).
Who can guess when this was taken?
Where was this photo taken?
When have been some of the occasions when West Hartford has had fireworks?
Please share your memories below.
Thank you to the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society for providing us with the images. They are always looking for new images to add to the collection. Visit their website at www.noahwebsterhouse.org for more information about membership and programs.
Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford!
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Pratt & Whitney Machine Tool Division, New Park Avenue. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
I’d like to guess the 2004 Sesquicentennial celebration over Rockledge Golf Course, but we had color photography back then; so I’ll guess that it’s way back in 1976 for the bicentennial year. I am ruling out the 1954 centennial because I don’t believe that Rockledge was a public course at that time (but it’s my second guess).
I remember the 1976 Bicentennial fireworks over Rockledge.
I believe the 1954 fireworks were in Sterling Field. I also seem to remember that some of the fireworks landed on the roofs of houses on Sidney Ave.
What are the pole/mast like structures in the haze? What is the structure at the left? Rick, good catch on the black and white clue. I’m bamboozled!
No idea, but wonder what sort of a structure the people on the left margin are in. There aren’t that many people there, and they all appear to be standing- kind of odd for a fireworks event. In a previous Throwback, wasn’t there a West Hartford tower mentioned? The terrain looks fairly level so I am going to guess it is not one of our parks or golf courses. How about View of Tower overlooking Sterling Field or something similar in Elmwood? Looking south at ARRL antennae?