Test your knowledge of West Hartford history with this ‘Thursday Throwback,’ courtesy ofthe 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

What a great response to last week’s photo! I don’t personally remember Del Monico’s (shown in photo at right and in larger size below) but I feel like I have traveled back in time reading all of your comments.

Many of the comments were posted in Facebook groups where this image was shared, and it’s great to follow the conversation as people recall eating at Del Monico’s, working there, who they ate with, or even their favorite waitress.

This photo of Del Monico’s was taken in 1966. The restaurant was located at 631 South Quaker Lane, right across the street from the Goodrich soccer fields and where ProHealth Physicians of West Hartford is currently located.

Some people, like Dave Gabriele, even remembered this building prior to Del Monico’s: “Before Del Monico’s one half of the building was a bar. It was either the Ace of Spades or Clubs … And the other half was Will Jacob Scuba and Surf Shop. Del Monico’s closed and the owner took over Rockledge restaurant,” he commented.

That owner was John Felice, according to comments from Rob Rowlson as well as Tim O’Connor – Felice’s nephew – who said his mom waitressed at Del Monico’s.

Many remembered Del Monico’s, as well as later occupancies: “Delmonico’s was an old standby which morphed into several different restaurants including Seafarer and a steakhouse before ultimately being renovated into ProHealth Physicians. At the time it was Delmonico’s, there weren’t too many restaurants in West Hartford … Howard Johnsons’s on Farmington Ave., Maple Hill in the Center but nothing like the 189 restaurants we have now,” commented Don Reder.

Some remembered eating there, and even some of their favorite food items: “Delmonico’s my parents and Eagans every Saturday night … and a doggy bag of baked stuffed shrimp for me on Sunday morning,” wrote Eileen Brewer Akin.

“So. Quaker. Heublein folks hangout. Great Angel Hair pasta dishes. Various restaurants afterwards. New Deal Steak House was one. Medical building now,” wrote Stephen Woolbert.

“I can remember many a Friday dinner with my mother,” commented Chris Graham Prendergast.

There’s another building in the photo, and Tracey Wilson wondered what happened to that. Karen Healey provided the answer: “The building to the north is a multifamily house that was torn down when seafarer was built to be used for parking.”

Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society

Although this week’s image (shown at right and in larger size below) isn’t a restaurant, it’s recent enough that it should also bring back some memories.

Where was this business located? What is in its place now? Do you have any memories of visiting this spot?

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

Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society