West Hartford’s ‘Thursday Throwback’

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

Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford HIstorical Society

By Ronni Newton

Welcome to “Throwback Thursday,” or if you’re reading this on Friday – “Flashback Friday”!

Last week’s image featured a seasonally-appropriate ice skating scene.  Rick Liftig was the first to chime in: “I’m putting on my guessing face now – and darned if that doesn’t look just like Rockledge Golf Course looking towards South Main Street. I’m guessing 1950 or so,” he commented.

If I didn’t already have the answer, I would have agreed with Rick. I was even out on Rockledge Golf Course cross country skiing a few days ago, and the perspective looking up toward the restaurant/club house appears just like this.

Several of those who offered guesses on Facebook thought that this pond was Beachland Park, where the town offered skating for many years. (We recently asked if there were plans to offer it this year since everything is frozen solid, but were told that the liability is too great.) Another guessed Fern Park.

The award goes to all of those who guessed Buena Vista! An anonymous “Guest” who commented on the story said, “Buena Vista Skating pond. [Cornerstone] Pool is [now] behind where the camera was. Bridlepath School, now Solomon Schechter, is [now] to the left and Veteran’s Skating Rink is [now] over the cameraman’s left shoulder.”

Connie Reder agreed: “Yes, definitely Buena Vista Skating pond! Spent many weekends there in the late 50’s and 60’s. (A long cold walk up and down Buena Vista hill). We used to wait impatiently each winter until Mr. Wyman, the caretaker, would determine when it was thick enough to skate on. (I recall the test was whether he could drive his tractor onto the middle of the ice!) The Wymans lived in the big white house you see there (now owned by the Art League) and his daughter and son went to Bridlepath school with me.” What a great memory!!

Bonnie MacKenzie was the first to suggest Beachland on the We-Ha Facebook page: “Buena Vista, looking toward what is now the Clubhouse Gallery of the West Hartford Art League. Before Conerstone Pool was built,” she commented.

“I agree with Bonnie,” added John Maloney. “On the far left is the now modified red art league building … The Club house above is the art league … the area below are barn like garage/ storage areas that housed the BV golf course maint. materials and equipment … The two tress on the far left are still there!” he commented.

Nancy Ball also guessed Buena Vista.

Former Director of Community Services Rob Rowlson agreed with the Beachland contingent. “Ok BV skated there many, many times. Great sledding as well,” he commented.

We love all of the comments by our readers!

We were hoping to offer an image of the Blizzard of 1978 this week, but the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society didn’t have one available. (Anyone have a good one? Send it by email to [email protected] and we will feature it in a future winter column.)

Here’s another good cold weather image? Does anyone know what these people are doing, and where they are?

Please add your memories, thoughts, and comments below.

Thank you to the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society for providing us with the images. For more information about the organization, visit www.noahwebsterhouse.org.

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

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