West Hartford’s ‘Monday Memory’

Test your knowledge of West Hartford history with this ‘Monday Memory,’ courtesy of the Noah Webster House and West Hartford Historical Society.

By Ronni Newton

It’s 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) became seasonally appropriate again with the return of winter, although hopefully it won’t be cold enough for an extended period of time to freeze any ponds.

“Buena Vista pond and the club house for the 9 hole course. The pond is still there ( I’m not positive on this but it may be fed by Trout brook). Cornerstone pool opened on part of the property in 1962-63,” was the guess posted by Derek Pariseault, the first to comment on the article.

“I was reading the post above and suddenly realized that the white building on the left is the Saltbox Gallery at 37 Buena Vista Rd. Now the building is painted red,” added Jon Lansberg.

Both are correct, as are most of those who commented and shared memories on Facebook. There were some other guesses as well, including Beachland Park, Rockledge, and Fern Park.

John Maloney spent many years working for the town, and had plenty of details about this image and the location. “Buena Vista golf course pond. Picture was taken from the 9th green, overlooking the pond. I will guess it was taken in the early 60’s. The White building on left is the now the red Saltbox gallery. The one to the right garaged golf course equipment and was the club house if I remember right.”

Nancy Taylor remembered skating there in the 1960s, as did Amy Lindeman Gouger who said she skated there with her dad.

Dan DeCourcy, who said his birthday is in January, remembered having skating birthday parties there as child.

Jane Penfield recalled the following: “Buena Vista skating pond. The ‘warming house’ was a lean to shed on the back of the old salt box house on the left, now used by the W.H. Art League. The clubhouse is up the hill on the right. The photo is taken from the site that later became the parking area for Cornerstone pool.”

“Buenaventure vista, skated there many times and skied there and used my sled there was a small hill there and a river flowing on the land lived about 15 mins from there then moved and it was a few min longer,” commented Jane Patrissi.

This week’s photo (at right and in larger size below as well as at the top of this column) is of another winter scene, which unfortunately (in my opinion) may be what West Hartford looks like later this week.

Where was this photo taken?

When was this photo taken?

What is in this space now?

Please share your memories below.

Thank you to the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society for providing us with the images. The Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society is 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

Skating at Buena Vista. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society