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 an in larger size below) was a tough one, as was the image from the previous week (also at right and in larger size below). We gave everyone an extra week for the Aug. 11 image, because there wasn’t even a single guess the first time around.
Thankfully, our local history buffs did not disappoint.
Tracey Wilson, West Hartford Town Historian, was the first to weigh in on the Aug. 18 image directly in the article comments: “I think this is Bishops tobacco barn,” she wrote.
On Facebook, Ray Petersen had the same correct answer: “Bishop’s tobacco warehouse. I think it was on the northeast corner of Albany avenue and North Main Street.”
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
There were some other guesses, including a building in Elmwood, the potters factory off New Britain Avenue, a schoolhouse, Westmoor Park, and the Trout Brook ice house, but Tracey and Ray had it right.
John Stanley was the first to provide a response to the Aug. 11 photo directly in the article comments: “I’m attempting to answer this because no one has yet! The photo of the old house has the word ‘druggist’ on its signage, and I believe the word ‘Judd’ too, and if that’s the case, this is most likely the SW corner of Farmington and South Main, probably in the 1910s or 20s. The Judd druggist shop later built the building that is still there on that corner. I’d love to know more about the building’s history!”
Ray Petersen, who posted his comments on Facebook, also correctly identified the Aug. 11 image: “Last week’s photo was Judd’s Drugstore on the southwest corner of Farmington Ave. and South Main Street.”
Liz Gillette had some additional comments about the Aug. 11 image, as well as the Aug. 18 photo. “Wow, John Stanley, I think you’re right about it saying ‘Judd.’ I hadn’t been able to see that, only the drugstore part. Didn’t the green, which would be in the foreground, have that big fountain-y thing? I can’t think of many seemingly big intersections in town of main roads that are that flat. Your guess would fit the topographical bill.I want to know more also. I’m also very intrigued with the Bishop tobacco barn. I don’t know much about that either. It appears to be a dual level building with three floors. It doesn’t have those long slat sides that I think of with tobacco barns, but they may just be drying barns. Ronni, you’ve picked some real stumpers!”
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford HIstorical Society
This week’s photo (at right and in larger size below) is much easier to identify.
Who knows where this is?
When was the photo taken?
What are some of the businesses that have been in these storefronts over the years?
What is in these spaces 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
Bishop Tobacco Barn. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Judd’s Drug Store, southwest corner of Farmington Avenue and South Main Street. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Looking SW from N side of Farmington…oh, don’t know what’s over there these days, Cosi, Reigning Cats and Dogs, Central Movie Theater, looking over towards LaSalle Rd. to the left of the white building (Plimpton’s), seems like there was a guitar shop there at some point. And to the left of LaSalle there’s Grant’s and who knows what else, there was a stationery store…memory foggy.
I just want to mention the MOST important store in the picture – Hilliard’s!
The new Kitchen store is where Sage Allen starts and the end of the block where Bennet’s was is now Blue Mercury. The next block west had LaSalle Music in their second iteration and had also be Casual Corner and Lehmann Paint. I may be wrong but the far white house is where Lincoln Dairy was built and S.K. Lavery still is.
Was it taken from the roof of the Central?