West Hartford’s ‘Thursday Throwback’
Audio By Carbonatix
Courtesy Town Manager Ron Van Winkle
Test your knowledge of West Hartford history with this ‘Thursday Throwback,’ courtesy of West Hartford Town Manager Ron Van Winkle and 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!
Note the extra name above in the credit for this week’s historical photo. Town Manager Ron Van Winkle came across a stash of historical photos in his office, and graciously offered to share them with us as well as the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society.
Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Last week’s photo (at right and in larger size below) was a tough one – or as Rick Liftig said, a “doozy.”
Rick took a few wild guesses, one of which was serious and the other, probably not: “The detail in this photo is incredible. I have to guess that this is from the 1890’s. All of these gals are carrying the same folio (along with the gentleman to the right). Seeing as it’s the first week of school, I will guess that these are teachers and they are being transported to school in style. My second guess is that this is the original Park Road Parade and these are the original wacky women of Park Road.”
There were a few really good and created guesses that were posted on Facebook. “It looks like a tram, possibly horse-drawn? A few of the people have books or programs in hand. Have they come from Luna Park? Or some other event?” commented Susan Wiley. Taken in 1880’s? Maybe a temperance meeting? Too early to be suffragettes?” she added.
Bonnie MacKenzie wrote: “Is this the original trolley (before the electric one) that ran on Farmington Ave, between Hartford and West Hartford?”
Bonnie’s guess was the closest, but this vehicle actually pre-dates the horse-drawn trolley that began service on Farmington Avenue in 1889. The women in the photo were members of the “Ladies’ Glee Club,” and they were serenading passengers on the “Hartford & West Hartford Omnibus.” We have no idea why there was time for the passengers to be serenaded, but maybe the omnibus traveled very slowly, or the horse had stopped for a break. The photo was likely taken in the 1880s.
Courtesy Town Manager Ron Van Winkle
This week’s photo (at right and in larger size below) is slightly more recent, but may still pose a challenge.
Where do you think this photo was taken?
When was the photo taken?
What are the businesses that are visible?
What businesses are on this street today?
Please share your memories below.
Thank you to Town Manger Ron Van Winkle, and 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 Town Manager Ron Van Winkle
Ladies’ Glee Club serenades passengers on the Hartford & West Hartford Omnibus. Courtesy Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
Here’s my guess – the road sign says N Main. I can’t read the other side well but judging by the number of letters, I think it might say Albany Ave.
I can’t make out the name on the building at the front of the photo but the sign at the road says Chicken Dinner $3. The direction sign on the bottom appears to say Hartford and the best I can get from the top is ‘Westerly Terr’??? So, my best guess is the south west corner in Bishops Corner where there is no a parking lot in front of the bank below Koman (the new restaurant)I’ll guess an early spring (lots of mud)in the teens or twenties. Lots of trucks parked and is that the ghost of Mark Twain on the right!
Thanks Ron and Ronni!
For me this is another interesting doozy! No, Main St is still a dirt road and intersects with some important paved road. Must be a state road and the only one I can think of is Albany Ave. With a sign for Westerly (trolley?#1?) and Hartford(trolley@2?) in the same direction. Maybe they gave free transfers! I wonder how far west the trolley went before converting to stagecoach. So is that chicken dinner where Troy’s Mobil is now? Wow-this town has certainly changed.