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
My personal memories of the spot featured in last week’s image (shown at right and in larger size below) are a bit sketchy, but even though this business was long gone by the time I actually moved to West Hartford in 1998, I recognized it even without looking at the address (937 Farmington Ave.). What I do remember was a late night/early morning trip there for waffles after a night out celebrating with my soon-to-be-husband’s friends in honor of our engagement. I was in my early 20s. Let’s leave it at that.
Here’s what our readers had to say:
“It’s the Toddle House! Jefferson Imaging is there now. Central Wheel was next door,” commented Liz Gillette on the article.
“Or Dobbs House? Occasionally as a teenager in the 60’s we’d skip church and go there for breakfast instead. My brothers and I called it St Dobbs,” guessed Mary Kate Cox. That comment caused Liz to question her answer of the Toddle House, but we believe that the name Toddle House was correct. There apparently was another one in the area as well, on New Britain Avenue.
We certainly trust the response of Rob Rowlson, who spent many years as West Hartford’s community services director: “Toddle House Restaurant on Farmington Avenue which is currently the WH Jefferson Imaging Center….when it was the Toddle House it was a favorite late night stop for the “guys” after you dropped your date at her home…this was back in the late 60’s.”
Some readers responded on Facebook, including Lisa Petersen who wrote: “Looks like the Toddle House on Farmington Ave just east of Main St. It looks like the steeple of 1st Church in the background.”
“Right where Jefferson Xray is on Farmington Avenue now….or a little further up on the same side. This was the site of a 24 hour pancake type restaurant in the 1980’s,” wrote Michele Confessore.
Michael Kirvan also thought the name might have been Dobbs House, and we will continue checking to see if there was ever a restaurant named Dobbs House in West Hartford.
“Yep, to the left of the old Central Wheel on Farmington Ave. Went there a few times for eggs and stuff after a night out partying back in the 80s,” added Liz Vannah.
“Toddle House, now Jefferson X-Ray,” wrote Nancy Ball.
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
This week’s image (at right and in larger size below) is not of a place I personally recall, but many of you likely will.
Where was this photo taken?
What is in this space now?
When do you think this photo was taken?
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
937 Farmington Ave. was formerly home to the Toddle House. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Your photo is of the property at the intersection of Farmington n Ave and Boulevard…. adjacent to the Stop&Shop property… currently still a dry cleaners….Battistons I believe….(this was a tough one Ronnie)
Could this be what was the Nelco Laundry that was at the corner of Farmington and Evergreen ? (I recognize the thick timber fence).
Good catch!
I should say, “Good catch, Rob!”
Actually NELCO dry cleaners was located on LaSalle Road, near or on the corner of ellsworth, down by the post office.. I believe it was owned by Arthur stevens.. His wife was (I believe) in the administrative staff at both Hall High and later Conard.. My Dad knew them through his school connections…
I am looking for a long list father whose name I am unsure of. My family rumor has it my mother Elizabeth Shirley “skipper” Lyons got pregnant by some who either owned or managed the Toddle House Restaurant in 1960. I was born in 1961. If anyone knows anything I would greatly appreciate your help. My mother is deceased and I really need assistance.
The Toddle House was where I95 was built.
The Toddle House on Farmington Av, West Hartford, in the 1960s, just east from South Main St., had become a “Dobbs House” by the time I left the area in the mid-1970s. I spent many a late night in that little restaurant. The W.H. police often frequented it. In fact, in the 1960s W.H. had a curfew after midnight – no more than 2 people could be walking together. We (3 to 5 of us) would leave our friend’s house (on Outlook Ave) and try to get to the restaurant before the police stopped us. If they caught us, no more than two of us could walk together; the others had to cross the street and walk separately. It was actually kind of a game for us.
I lived in W.H. from 1959 to about 1972.
It was definitely Dobbs House in the late 1970s. I was a 3rd shift waitress there, in 1979. Every job was easy after working there, that is fore sure.
I loved that Farmington Avenue Toddle House. I grew up in Bloomfield and got my license in 1960. It was one of the few places a 16 year old could afford. The building was tiny and cute. I remember the great pecan waffles, sirloin burgers and pecan and chocolate cream pies. The staff was also a fascinating bunch, many from the South. The rumor was they were prisoners, but that was probably our overactive teenage imaginations! I read that Dobbs House, a competitor, bought out the company in 1962 and let it decline. By 1980 the Toddle House franchise was liquidated. The building looked exactly like this: http://2013toserve.blogspot.com/2014/02/memories-of-toddle-house-banana-cream.html An old menu: https://www.flickr.com/photos/51992558@N00/5589893969