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!
This is a bonus week for local history buffs, featuring a Monday Memory and Throwback Thursday. (Of course that’s because last week was devoid of either one.)
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Monday’s image (at right and in larger size below) was, as expected, not a stumper. However, it did bring back lots of memories for our readers which was really the intent.
Dianne Rechel started off the comments: “Easy one for anybody who grew up in West Hartford! Hammarlund’s was one of the only places in town where a kid could walk in with a quarter and come out with something cool. The restaurant has seen various incarnations …”
William Kennedy, who said he moved from West Hartford to Philadelphia in 1935, shared some long ago memories in a comment on the article: “Our family originally lived on Whiting Lane,and later moved to Kingston Street. Then in 1935 we moved from West Hartford to Philadelphia because the SKF Bearing Co. plant was closing. My dad was a machinist there and was offered a job in Philly. I was 10 years old and had attended the Seymore Ave. Grammar School. I remember one teacher’s name, a Ms Dube. My sister Ruth and I used to swim at the Fern Street Pool and usually were driven there in the rumble seat of one of our neighbors sports coupe. I remember the extensive sewer work on Park Ave and used to watch the workmen drinking water from a bucket with A large ladle. The library and museum were popular haunts for both of us, especially the movies every Saturday showing the history in the time of the revolutionary war and after.”
I had to look this one up, and learned that Seymour School opened in 1915 as an eight-room schoolhouse. An eight-room addition was added in 1926. At one point 700 students attended the school. The name was changed to Florence E. Smith School (to honor a long-time principal) in 1948. “STEM” was added to the school’s name at the start of the 2012-13 academic year.
Michael Kirven correctly identified the current businesses in the spaces featured in the photo: “Hammarlunds is now the CVS drug store – Longo’s is now the Treva resturant.”
Many of our readers posted their comments on Facebook, including John Hogan who correctly stated that the original restaurant to occupy the 980 Farmington Ave. space was the West Hartford Diner, dating back to the 1930s when it was a free-standing structure.
Kitty Horigan, Kathleen Davis, Amy Frey, Jane Steinmiller, Paul Shipman, Celeste Fallon Smith, and Marianne Burnett were among those who recalled Edelweiss at 980 Farmington Ave. “Helmut Goetz was the owner. I miss the Game Menu he had from October to December,” Giovanni Seccarecchia commented.
Lisa Petersen remembered taking ballet with the daughter of the Edelweiss owner. Mark Cattel said his dad loved having lunch at Edelweiss.
Amy Frey thought that Scoler’s may have briefly been located at 980 Farmington Ave., before Edelweiss opened in 1968. Although I was able to find references to Scoler’s being located in Bishops Corner, I couldn’t find anything about a Farmington Avenue location. Does anyone else remember? I did find a reference to a previous incarnation as Cocoa Kitchen, which wasn’t mentioned by anyone.
Edelweiss closed in 1998. The space was then Puerto Vallarta (where Anya Hunt said she worked) and has been the home of Treva since December 2010.
Treva shared the image on their Facebook page as well, and of course correctly identified the image.
David Glass had some fond memories of Hammarlund’s, the former occupant of 976 Farmington Ave. “Hammarlund’s 5 & 10. We used to order baseball cards, and Mrs. Hammarlund would bring them to class (4th grade). With Neil Jaffee, Dom Ciraulo, Art Helfgott, Bart Gordon, and others.”
MaryAnne Klimas Skinner said her first job was at Hammarlund’s. Barbara Rowlson fondly remembered going there, and Anne Green said she lived next door to the Hammarlund family.
After Hammarlund’s closed, Ann Taylor occupied the space before it became CVS. There may have been other occupants as well.
No one mentioned Manuels Cleaning and Tailor Shop, which is to the left of Longo’s in the photo. Does anyone remember that business? It’s now Grace Nails.
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
We’re throwing it back a bit further this week, but the stretch of road in this image (at right and in larger size below) should still be identifiable to history buffs.
Who knows where this is?
What occupies this stretch of road today?
When was this photo taken?
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
980 Farmington Ave. is currently Treva Restaurant, and 976 Farmington Ave. is now CVS. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
I’ve got my guessing hat on. That sure looks like the Farmington Avenue Hill facing West. The church on the left would be where the Congregational Church is now (and is probably a previous incarnation)and the house on the right is the parking lot for Bank of America.
But, there’s a utility pole with electricity and phone, but NO trolley tracks… so color me – confused.
One more thought: the church at the top of the hill to the right certainly resembles the Baptist Church on N. Main. Any chance that this was Fern st facing East?
I’m going to piggy-back on Rick. I think it’s taken at about Troutbrook looking towards Main. The Congregational church was also called the “greystone church” and burned down in 1942. Is the square topped building way in the back right the old town hall on the northwest corner? If so that would make the steeple the old Baptist church (I think…) While it may be earlier, I wonder if this is a picture of the once famous West Hartford mud, perhaps covering the tracks. Do the utility poles have an arm on them that would be the trolley cable?
Is this New Britain Avenue looking west up the hill from about New Park? This is a tough one!