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
If you thought last week’s image (at right and in larger size below) had a bit of a different look to it, that’s because it is from the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society’s “postcard” collection.
Our first comment came from someone who doesn’t live in West Hartford and could have sent a postcard home from this spot: “The new photo is of the Holy Family, Passionist Retreat and Conference Center on Tunxis Road. They have excellent retreats and beautiful grounds. I try to get there at least once a year. I currently live in Albany, NY,” wrote Dave Desilets.
“Rob” thought Dave was correct, but thought the property was in Farmington rather than West Hartford.
“Yes, it is now called the Holy Family Retreat Center, but we just called it ‘The Monastery’ when we were growing up. There are still Passionist fathers and brothers living there, and I go to Mass in their public chapel once a week. The grounds are serene and beautiful, they hold retreats of all kinds, both secular and for all faiths. Their music program is phenomenal. A real jewel, nationally known, just on the West Hartford/Farmington line,” added Connie Reder.
Wendy Fair agreed. So did Lisa Petersen, Donna Morrison, John Hogan, Nancy Law, Lisa Franklin, William Zinkerman, Sue Jednorowicz, Aaron Sarwar, Beth Ryan, David Dyson, Gail Harel, and Sharona Kravitz who added their comments on Facebook. Lisa Pang also said it was Holy Family, and added that the body of water in the background is Wood Pond.
A few who commented on Facebook thought this was UConn Health Center (which is in Farmington) or UConn Law School (which is in Hartford), but those who said Holy Family were correct.
The water in the background is actually Woodridge Lake – but many people don’t realize that there are actually two bodies of water and use the name Wood Pond because that’s what the neighborhood is called.
We’re not quite sure when the photo was taken, but Holy Family was built in 1951. At the time this photo was taken there were only two buildings and at some point a third was added.
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
We travel a bit farther back in time with this week’s throwback image (at right and in larger size below).
Where was this photo taken?
Any idea when this photo was taken?
What is on this street today?
Please share your memories below.
Thank you to the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society for providing us with the images. They are always looking for new images to add to the collection. Visit their website atwww.noahwebsterhouse.orgfor more information about membership and programs.
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Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Farmington Ave looking east towards Quaker Lane. The photo appears to have been taken from approximately the location of AAA. The apartments were constructed in the 20s, 30s and 40s along Farmington Ave to provide housing for the “Atena Girls”. Many of these apartment buildings had little or know parking since they were on the trolley line.
Rob beat me to it and he covered the topic in spades. OTOH, he did post at 1:25 AM!
Rob and Rick are both right; but neither seems to remember that this is a “throwback throwback”! This photograph, or one nearly identical to it, was in another Throwback Thursday or year or two ago.
Do I get a special prize for remembering that?
(We’ve been without power until just an hour ago, or I might have beaten even Rob to this one).
Rob also beat me. This is across the street from the AAA building. I’ve read that the AAA lot was a proposed site of a Sheraton hotel in the 1960s.
You all are very good — I was thinking at first it was the row of apartments across from Hampshire House – and that Farmington Ave had sunk a bit since this photo which must be from the 1940s. The AAA building was built in 1966 and I do think there was talk of a hotel there. 814 Farmington Ave was built in 1927 – the trolley still would have been running – I can’t tell if the trolley tracks are on the street hear? Can any of you?
Tracey we found remnants of trolly tracks in Farmington Ave as well as Park road during reconstruction.
Well, everyone beat me to it. But, I recognized the place immediately. I used to deliver the Hartford Times to those buildings.