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
Lots of you remembered the place featured in last week’s image (shown at right and in larger size below) – the Cypress Arms.
Although several of our readers thought it was in the spot where the Fernwood is now located on New Britain Avenue, the Fernwood has actually been there for 70 years!
Rob Rowlson quickly pinpointed the correct location in the comments on the article, along with some other interesting details: “Cypress Arms on Park Road and currently Plan B … formerly owned by the DeBella family. Last stop for Barbara and I the night before our wedding … after rehearsal dinner and without all the “rents”… fun stop with bands downstairs,” Rob said.
Bill McCarthy also had some firsthand memories of the Cypress Arms. “My brother Tim owned the Cypress Arms for 14 years. It was a great neighborhood sports bar,” he said.
Many added their comments on Facebook, here are a few of the highlights:
Sharon Brewer said, “I remember the smell:-). Could not leave there without taking a shower immediately after. Always fun though!”
“Cypress was a great place – the pool room downstairs. Many a fun night there,” said Phillip Penna
“Cypress was a lot of fun!” added Marie Baker
Several people mentioned the basement, which does not seem to be in use by Plan B. One suggested reason is that it would be impossible to achieve compliance with ADA and other code requirements.
Several of our readers seem to imply that they overindulged a bit at Cypress Arms, and Donald Roy confessed that it was his “favorite under age bar in the mid 60s.”
Max Rioual, who said he used to hang out at the Cypress Arms, also recalled that it was owned at one point by the DeBella family.
I’ll even add my own memory of the Cypress Arms, which is that at one point they sponsored my soccer team, the Sky Blue team in the West Hartford Women’s Soccer League. It was a great hangout after Saturday afternoon/early evening games, and dirty uniforms were acceptable attire.
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
This week’s image (at right and in larger size below) is also a spot that many longtime West Hartfordites may recall.
Any idea when this photo was taken?
What happened to this business?
What’s in this spot now?
Please share your memories 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.
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Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Cypress Arms was located at 138 Park Rd., the current site of Plan B. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
I think I remember shopping there at the corner of South Main St and Sedgwick Rd, where TD bank and the shuttered South Main Pizza is:(. To the right was Dougherty Drugs and Luncheonette before the Big Fire that claimed most, if not all, of the building. I seem to remember hearing that it was the largest fire West Hartford had ever had. Sorry to see South Main Pizza go!
The store was in my family from 1959 thru the fire in Feb. 1979