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!
Submitted photo
Last week we had a throwback image (at right and in larger size below) submitted by another organization, but we didn’t say who it was because that would have given away the answer.
I thought this was a really interesting photograph, and it didn’t seem obvious what was happening, but most of our readers figured it out very quickly.
“I’ve lived in WeHa my whole life and that looks to me like Connie the Whale being built! Long before I was born so pre-1980!” commented Sara Avery, who took the first guess.
“It’s Connie the whale! They must be building the structure. That was pretty amazing at the time and still is for my grandkids! You can see Hamilton Heights (aka ‘the white elephant’) in the background. I’m glad I got this one, Ronni, last week truly stumped me. Thanks to Rick et al – I’m off for more study!” added Liz Gillette.
“That’s the frame of ‘Connie’ the whale at the Children’s Museum. Trout Brook Dr! Really an odd perspective,” added Rob Rowlson.
A few first hand memories of the Children’s Museum from the early days provided by “RF”: “That science museum was fun. There used to be a big long red wood building in front, classrooms and such. They had a Good Humor machine in the lobby of the museum with the premium chocolate eclair bar, and a big, mesmerizing pendulum, and squishy sea anemones you could touch and a planetarium. I think I went in the whale once. I think the lower floor had a -very dark and spooky- reptile exhibit, snakes and scorpions and whatnot. Bits and pieces from memories long ago.”
The structure in the background is actually Hampshire House, and the whale’s name is spelled “Conny” (both corrections kindly made by Connie Reder, who spells her name the more common way!), but we’ll still give you credit.
Connie also added some memories: “Our son Ben, now 35, went to pre-school at the Children’s Museum, and of course the first thing every kid wanted to do was climb inside that whale. Going back a whole lot further, I spent a summer when I was about 11 at the Children’s Museum Summer Program: art, science, nature; it was wonderful!”
The Children’s Museum in the 1960s. Courtesy of Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Liz Gillette added a few more thoughts about the history of the Children’s Museum, which has had various names and has been at its current location since 1958. “Go way, way back – does anyone remember Mrs. Cheney? All the stuffed animal heads in the auditorium? The replica space capsule? The back building where they had an American Indian room, an Oriental room and a Colonial room? Wasn’t it originally The Junior School that became Renbrook? Connie, I did camp there too, as I remember.”
A number of readers added their comments on Facebook, and whether they spelled the whale’s name “Conny” or “Connie,” they knew what was in the photo.
“That looks like a whale of a construction project,” commented Joel Grove.
“Conny the Whale! Conceived, designed and planned by the Cetacean Society of CT and ‘planted’ at what is now named the CT Children’s Museum. A true WH icon,” wrote Mary Ellen White.
“It was built between 1975 and 1976 … I would say the picture was 1975 given that workers are not wearing long sleeve shirts and that ‘Conny’ isn’t nearing completion,” commented Jennifer Howe Frank.
And finally, some very interesting tidbits from history buff and Children’s Museum Board Member Rick Liftig: “Interesting facts: Conny is male. At one time, the anatomically correct ‘dork’ was in place – I’m not sure about its whereabouts today (Age-related I guess); He is made of ferrocement. And hopefully, Conny will re-locate with the Museum onto the former UConn campus near Bishop’s Corner. We need your support!”
Conny is celebrating [his] 40th birthday on June 25! Click here for more information about Conny (named for “Connecticut”) and all the details about that event.
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
We’re throwing it back to a retail photo for this week’s image (at right and in larger size below).
Who knows where this photo was taken?
When was this photo taken?
Who remembers these businesses?
What is located in this area now?
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 at www.noahwebsterhouse.org for more information about membership and programs.
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Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Submitted photo
Looks somewhat like where Crown market/Starbucks is today, early ’60’s.
This was taken in the Southeast corner of Bishop’s Corner area (in the “back”). This building is where Starbucks is now and the sign for Popular Market refers to the building where the Crown Marketis now.
There was another Popular Market in town at the corner of South Main and Park. It became Frank’s Supermarket which lasted into the 1990s. That Popular Market is now CVS. I miss having a neighborhood grocery store.
Actually, South Main near Sedgwick, I believe, where CVS is now. My mother was a frequent shopper there. Frank, at the meat counter, always packaged things special back then!
Believe Lisa is right, this is the other “Popular.” The one we shopped at was up on South Main.
When The Crown Market moved into this location, Popular moved across Albany Ave for many years,
to where Staples is now.
Today it is the Crown parking lot. My Dad owned Saxony Deli for a while. My Uncle George Liskin ran it. I worked there before I turned 16. Mayrons Bakery on one side and Liggetts on the other.
At the Popular check-out your groceries would go into numbered boxes onto a roller-type belt at the very front. You would get the number of your box and it would get a shove and sail along, through a curtain of strips and out to the front sidewalk. The young man at the front outside would take your number when you drove up and place your groceries into your car for you.
I wanted to ride in that grocery box so badly I could taste it! Alas, never did…
And how about the Liggett’s drug store, started by the Ratner brothers, before it became Suburban and moved around the corner? And it had a phone booth! Some of the car buffs should be able to identify exactly what 1960’s year this is. It would be interesting to contrast this with a photo of the upcoming Farmer’s Market!