West Hartford History: Where Was This Business Located?

If you think you know the answer or have a special memory related to the photo, respond in the "Leave a comment" box below this article. We'll run the answer next Monday, along with a new historical photo. The image has been provided by the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society. For more information on the museum's collection and programs, visit www.noahwebsterhouse.org.

Last week we asked "Where Did This Take Place?" and it seems to have been one of the easier questions because everyone who commented was absolutely correct about the location.

Amy Frey jumped right in with her answer, "Raymond Road/Isham Road area where Blue Back now is and near where the Celebrate! race starts now," she wrote early last Tuesday morning, right after the column was published.

Patty Sheehan Albee said, "That looks like the old Grody Building (car dealership) on Raymond Road," and Richard Patrissi added, "Bob Newman the owner of Williams Ford on Raymond Road would be pleased to see his building and the road race activity has been captured and preserved for history."

Even more details were added by Don Reder who wrote, "Yes, Newman Ford is on the right and the two story brick building in the background was the W.A. Murray building where my first office was located on the second floor after I got out of the Army in 1970. The plumbing firm Washburn & Murray was on the first floor of that building and, not seen in the picture, further towards Farmington Avenue is the building that used to house what I think was West Hartford Pizza and a smaller West Side Wines, which was owned by Nick who, with his trusty sidekick "Cook" made the best pizza around. This was all part of the Labor Day Fair held at the American Legion hall (now relocated as part of the Blue Back Square development) where we all went as the official conclusion of our summer and the transition to the school year."

Lisa Petersen also remembered Williams for on Raymond Rd. "My parents bought all their cars there and the good thing was they could leave the car for service and then walk home," she recalled.

The official answer from the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society is: "The runners participating in this marathon ran along Raymond Road, where the Whole Foods store is now located."