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) is clearly of a firehouse, but we wondered if readers could figure out which station this is/was.
Most were quick to get it right.
“That’s the fire house on Brace Road. I think the building houses a Vermont furniture builder now,” commented “Bruce,” the first to take a guess.
“That’s the old Brace Road fire station on the south side of Brace Road. It became too small for the larger firetrucks of today. Now that there’s a new, bigger fire station across the street, this building has been repurposed to a furniture store. It’s wonderful that it wasn’t torn down,” added Lisa Petersen.
“Definitely the old fire station in the center off Brace,” added “Jody,” correctly identifying the current occupant as the Pompanoosuc Mills furniture store.
“Chuck” thought it was the fire station on New Britain Avenue in Elmwood. “It is still there of course, renovated but still serving the local area,” he commented. Although the fire station on New Britain Avenue is also brick and has three doors, it has more of a Tudor style.
Our Facebook commenters also identified this as the old Brace Road fire station, and the current home of Pompanoosuc Mills.
“Was a great firehouse,” wrote Peter Lepak.
Pompanoosuc Mills is one of the current occupants of the building, but there are others including the business that reader Lindsay Ryan Jensen works for. She wrote, “That’s the current home of Ryan Marketing, the company my father started in 1996 in Farmington. We joined the West Hartford community 3 years ago when I became managing partner. Our team and our clients love the creative loft space at Firehouse Square! It may be a third floor walk up, but the views are worth it – and it keeps our waistlines in check with all the fabulous lunch options within feet from our office!”
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
I have a feeling that this week’s photo (at right and in larger size below) is one that will inspire a lot of reminiscing.
Who knows where this photo was taken?
When do you think this photo was taken?
What businesses occupy these storefronts today?
Does anyone remember shopping in these stores?
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.
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Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Former Brace Road fire station, now Firehouse Square. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
West Hartford Center for sure, maybe where the bank and MaxOyster is?
Fun fact, SS Kresge is the predecessor of today’s K-Mart.
Kresge’s store is next to where the CVS in the Center is now, I believe. The molding on the cornice work–sort of Art Deco dentil–is still there on the east half of the building.