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 photo (at right and in larger size below) is of a business that was one of the first places I visited when I moved to West Hartford from the Washington, D.C. area in 1998.

Even though I had a toddler and another child on the way, I hadn’t graduated to my mom minvan yet and drove a VW Passat which needed some sort of service in the first week I was in town. Thanks to my helpful neighbor who gave me a tour of West Hartford, I quickly found Bill Barry Volkswagen on New Park Avenue.

Most of our readers correctly identified this spot and also know what’s there now, but there were quite a few opinions about the year this photo was taken. The photo is actually undated, but most likely was taken in the mid to late 1960s.

Robert Farr was the first to comment: “New Park Ave., right near Flatbush Ave. iirc; hmmm…1970? They had to ’eminent domain’ this property for the busway route, or buy it, something like that.”

“Was it Bill Barry Volkswagen? I think Bob’s got it. It’s now the busway station at Flatbush,” Liz Gillette added.

Lisa Petersen had firsthand memories of the business: “Bill Barry Volkswagen on New Park Avenue corner of Flatbush. My dad drove a ‘beetle’ back then and I remember going here. He had a 1963 and then a 1969 beetle. Later he had a ‘Rabbit’ from there.”

“Right. Ooohhh: and look at that 1956 Karmann Ghia! Wanted one of those in the worst way. Who knew Volkswagen also made sexy cars?” added Connie Reder.

Astute reader Mike Margolis noted the sign on the building. Before the VW dealership was Bill Barry, it had another name: “By the way, my wife bought a Jetta there in early 1985 when it was still Hart VW, as the photo shows.”

There were also a number of comments on Facebook, most of whom knew exactly where this was.

“Bill Barry VW, corner of New Park and Flatbush. Flyover Bridge on Flatbush rises there now,” commented Rui Ferreira, who dated the photo at pre-1972 based on the shape of the Karmann Ghia’s bumper.

I’d love to hear more from John Lyons, a noted car expert, about why he thinks the photo is from 1958 or 1959.

“Back when a VW bug was $1995 and a couple of hefty friends could serve as a utility lift,” added Rick Liftig. [Editor’s note: I sometimes drove my father’s Honda Civic when I was in high school, and my friends would sometimes pick that up and move it.]

“Bought my first car there. Red Bug. And it was $1,995!!!” wrote Ellyn Mansfield.

Michael Ingram still drives a car he bought from Bill Barry: “Still driving a Jetta I bought there in 2006.”

Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society

This week’s photo (at right and in larger size below) is older, and although it’s fairly obvious what this is, the location may be harder to identify.

Who knows where this is?

When was the photo taken?

What is in this space 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

Bill Barry Volkswagen was locatd at 470 New Park Ave. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society