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!
Town of West Hartford
Wasn’t last week’s image (at right and in larger size below) a fun one?
A few of our readers not only knew where Hardy’s was, but remembered eating there!
Rick Liftig immediately knew the location, but from this comment it’s hard to tell if he ever actually had one of their burgers: “Howdy was on New Park Avenue, I remember it being next to Will Jacob’s Surf Shop which later moved into Elmwood (where Alyce Carella Dance is today). I think the location was on the East side of the road near Flatbush. My over-protective mother wouldn’t let us eat at places like Howdy’s saying that we’d get ptomaine poisoning!”
Thanks to Rick (and the internet) for also sharing the Howdy jingle:
“Howdy Beefburger Drive-ins Serve up tasty treats
Beefburgers made with just the finest meats
Howdy Beefburger Drive-Ins, Drive right up and get
Speedy Speedy Speedy Service and the best Beefburgers yet.”
Christina Stabnick knew from firsthand experience where Howdy’s was located. “Howdy’s on New Park Avenue. We used to grab a burger there when Dad was on a business trip. I can’t remember the quality of the food, but we all survived!” she commented.
“Dunkin Donuts is now on that site on New Park Avenue,” added Patricia Perugini on Facebook.
The Howdy hamburger stand is long gone, but when this photo was taken in 1966 it was located on the east side of New Park Avenue. Howdy was just north of the Dunkin Donuts that has been renovated but still stands today.
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford HIstorical Society
For this week we have an image that people may also remember – not necessarily for the food served there, but you never know!
What is/was this building? What memories of it do you have?
Please share your thoughts and memories below. Captions are, of course, always welcome.
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.
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Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford HIstorical Society
The Howdy hamburger stand was located on New Park Avenue. Courtesy Town of West Hartford
Looks like the building that faces Hamilton Ave (between Farmington and Fern). I think it’s a nursing home or similar now but was built by a Vanderbilt.
The Hamilton Heights complex was Mount Saint Joseph Academy (possibly what is in picture), but Vanderbilt’s home was on the road that you entered from Farmington Avenue onto West Hill Drive.
Oh, yes, that is Mount St. Joseph Academy, from which I graduated in 1967. It is now Atria Hamilton Heights, an assisted living community. The Hartford Insurance Group bought it initially after the school closed; later it was purchased by The Marriott Corp., totally rehabbed and named Brighton Gardens. (My late mother-in-law and parents were both residents at one time). What used to be the chapel has Tiffany stained glass windows and is listed in the National Historic Register. It is well worth taking a tour!
The photo is Mount Saint Joseph Adademy and I spent 4 happy years there.The school opened in 1908 starting as a boarding school and continued until 1978. A beautiful place for high school girls to
attend and receive a great education!