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

Last week’s somewhat small and narrow image (at right and in larger size below) proved no challenge to identify for quite a few of our readers. It brought back some rather vivid memories for them as well!

Liz Gillette wrote, “If the picture was a little bigger to the left, you would see the side of Sam’s Army/Navy. It’s just a tad [east] on Farmington Ave. on the southwest corner of Main St. The doorway is the entrance to the apartments up above, which have always held great fascination for me. I would say the sixties sometime. My first pair of “hippy” Landlubber jeans came from Sam’s! So were my Navy surplus pants and my vintage pea jacket. I still have the pants! How my mother hated that I had a job (at the Toy Chest) and money to spend at Sam’s!”

Liz, you’re correct about the 1960s; the image is from June 1966.

Dianne Rechel certainly had some firsthand knowledge of the location: “The corner building shared by #1 and # 7 So Main St although this entrance is on Farmington Ave. The top floor (where the air conditioner is) was my apartment for several years. Nothing fancy, but great for college kids. (Liz- weren’t you ever invited to any of our parties?) The Center was verrrry quiet in those days. Across was Maxwell’s Drug Store where I worked part-time and had no excuse for being late! Yes, the army Navy store was downstairs and before it does anyone remember some sort of electronics/car battery shop??”

951 Farmington Ave. Image from Google Maps

Gordon Reeder commented that he thought this might be a buiding on the west side of South Main, just south of Farmington Avenue, but it’s actually the Farmington Avenue view of the building right on the corner. The address is 951 Farmington Ave. As for the present day view, here’s one from Google Maps that shows the part of the building to the east, the former Army Navy stores site where Bruegger’s Bagels is now. As you can see, the façade is pretty much identical!

There were quite a few other guesses on Facebook, including 23 LaSalle Rd., Arugula (which is actually right next door at 953 Farmington Ave.), and Prospect Avenue. Several people commented that this was Bruegger’s, and we will say that’s correct because it is part of the same building even though the Bruegger’s portion wasn’t in the throwback photo.

Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society

We’ve got another image for this week (at right and in larger size below) that “perhaps” is from the same era. What do you think? [Editor’s note: The Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society is looking for 1960s era photos for a special exhibit commemorating the museum’s 50th birthday. If you have any, they would be glad to scan and return them to you!]

Who knows where this is?

Who knows when it was taken?

What is in this space now?

Do you recall ever visiting these businesses?

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

951 Farmington Ave. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society