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
Sometimes it’s fun to feature a photo that’s tough to identify, but it’s even better when someone immediately can pinpoint the location and shares all sorts of interesting details. That was the case with last week’s photo (shown at right and in larger size below) and the comments provided by Liz Gillette.
“That’s in the Center across from Town Hall. It’s Dunkin Donuts now. The First National and State Dime Bank was next door before Town Center, to the north. To the south, the set-back office has been there a long time and the house that was more recently taken down (would have made a great clam shack!) I think Allen Collins moved around the corner to Ellsworth sometime in the ’80s, into what was then a new building. The iron work is the give away!” Gillette commented on the article.
“Ellsworth Rd., where something called Nelson Spa appears to be in 2011,” added Robert Farr (with a little help from Google, he confessed) regarding the comment about Allen Collins. “The date’s a little trickier, no earlier than 1963 when the fur shop opened. I’ll say 1972,” said Farr.
“That was the original location of the uber-prep clothier Allen Collins on South Main Street before they moved around the corner onto Ellsworth Road,” added Connie Reder.
“David T.” guessed 43 South Main, circa 1968. We’ll take that as a correct guess since the building is 41-43 South Main and the year is about right, too.
We had a few correct comments on Facebook, too, including one from Patricia Catania who said she was showing her age as she wrote, “Right in the center of town across from town hall.”
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
This week’s photo (at right and in larger size below) is of a building that many will remember, and you won’t really be showing your age because even my kids went to this place in its former incarnation.
What is in this building now? (I know, easy question but we have to ask!)
What are your memories of this place?
When did it become a completely different type of business?
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
41-43 South Main St., circa 1966. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Of course it’s the old Elm Theater, with its Art Deco design and wide carpeted staircase curving up to the balcony. Not QUITE as glam as the Central Theater (no chandelier as I recall), but definitely our second-favorite theater for Saturday matinees!
That’s the Elm Theater in Elmwood.
I saw The Sound of Music there twice. It ran for a WHOLE YEAR – circa 1965. I also remember that they featured reserved seating!
It is now a Walgreen’s
Yes, the Elm theater. Coleco (across the road in the old Talcott School, now condos) used to hold a community children’s Christmas party in the theater at the height of Cabbage Patch fame. There is a Pianosaurus up in out attic that my grandchildren play with from one of those parties! Mr. Zaccardi worked there for years.
What may be of interest is this : There is an accepted “truism” that development only intensifies upon the existing use. Well, the theater was built on land that had been used as the Goodwin Pottery Works for the best part of a hundred years, growing to an enormous, sprawling factory works, down to New Park. Using good old West Hartford clay, it was a going concern for decades, burned and re-built several times, and one of our first factories, providing work for many immigrant waves. Along with other factories in Elmwood, these immigrants precipitated the founding of the first Catholic Church in West Hartford, St. Bridget’s, I believe.
After the last big fire, sometime around 1900, I think, the pottery works closed. The land fell fallow, with residential, school and other much less intensive use until finally the theater was built. The land, which had been clear-cut bare for over a hundred years, was allowed to grow back up, especially along Trout Brook. The Noah Webster House has some wonderful pictures of the factory and examples of what was our famous pottery.
Walk around in back of the Community Center to see how insignificant we are in the face of time and nature.
P.S. Someone jump in and correct me if it was the Talcott Pottery Works and not Goodwin!