West Hartford, has morphed from an agricultural town between the Farmington, the Trout Brook and Park Rivers into a small, dynamic, city full of open air cafes, fashionable boutiques, salons, spas, upscale clothiers, well-established jewelers and a myriad of local and national high-end stores and eateries that line its sidewalks along its commercial centers such as Blue Back Square, the Old Town Center, Park Road, Bishops Corner, and Elmwood Center and ,of course, West Farms Mall which is associated with West Hartford but really belongs to the town of Farmington.

West Hartford has, in essence, become the Hartford region’s new downtown. It is a center where all age groups meet to dine, to catch a flick or watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July or attend various art exhibits and shows such as Art Walk, Celebrate West Hartford, the Park Road Parade or concerts at Blue Back Square. In the summer, concerts by the West Hartford Symphony are offered al fresco at Elizabeth Park where locals as well as people from the surrounding towns of the Farmington and Connecticut river valleys such as Avon, Canton, Farmington, Simsbury, Bloomfield, Wethersfield, Glastonbury and beyond come to enjoy both classical and pop music.

West Hartford is a snapshot of America. It is home to many places of interest such as the University of Hartford and its Harte School of Music, the Noah Webster House and Museum, The Science Center and the Gengras Planetarium, The University of Connecticut/ West Hartford Campus, Saint Joseph’s College, the Aquatic Center of Connecticut, the Kingswood-Oxford and Rembrook Schools and others.

What clearly defines West Hartford and makes it so special to all are its neighborhoods. These have been clearly defined by the access to different modes of transportation. Avenues, trolleys, interstate highways, and Bradley International Airport have all contributed to the development of the Town of West Hartford.

The transformation of West Hartford into a small city began as a result of the strong economic growth of the nearby city of Hartford, the State Capitol. During the post-war Periods of the last century, high tech industry and insurance companies grew and prospered in Hartford. This growth created a strong demand for new housing close to Hartford.

Initially, Hartford’s industrial barons began to build their splendorous mansions along a ridge overlooking Hartford which became known as Prospect Avenue . Over the years Prospect Avenue became the boundary between West Hartford and Hartford. Tudors, great brick colonials and custom built homes on a grand scale were built in the Hartford Golf Club, Elizabeth Park, and University of Hartford areas. Avenues such as Asylum, Albany, and Farmington filled with fashionable homes as did streets with names such as Belknap, Steele, Sycamore and roads such as Pilgrim, Ledyard, and Colonial.

To the west, names like Governor’s Row, Mountain Rd., Deercliff, Orchard, Hunter, Sunset, Old Stone Crossing, Webster Hill, Sunrise Hill, Sulgrave , Stoner, Ridgeview, and Cassandra became home to condominiums, colonials, capes, splits, ranches and custom built homes.

Near the center, most homes are turn of the 20th century with a predominant 1920’s style. Victorians, capes, colonials and bungalows of this period are favored by the young professionals who have migrated to this fashionable hub. Many homes have been painstakingly restored to their former grandeur with state of the art conveniences.

From the delicate Rose Gardens of Elizabeth Park which was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead to the rustic woodlands and trails of the Reservoirs, West Hartford has many recreational facilities at hand. Fern Park, Westmoor Park, Buena Vista Park and Kennedy Memorial Park are family favorites. In addition to smaller parks such as the historical Town Green and the new Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park, the town has additional recreational facilities at its schools and colleges such as Saint Joseph’s College and the University of Connecticut/ West Hartford.

Over time, West Hartford has welcomed many people of diverse ethnicities and cultures which have made it more cosmopolitan. It continues to flourish as it has ever since it was founded over 150 years ago. This small New England town is an exciting place to call home. There is no doubt that West Hartford is indeed a snapshot of America with a huge heart. It’s the place to be!

M. R. Gaztambide