This is very interesting - and intensely heartbreaking! You've done an amazing job documenting the 'what', have you considered ding a video about the 'how' these changes came about? That is, what decisions were made by whom and when? Thanks again for your great work!
My grandfather used to work for Fox Press, in the building on the northeast corner of front and state streets up until they moved to the North Meadows to make room for Constitution Plaza. I’ve never even been to the neighborhood, but thanks to your videos I can imagine all the sights and sounds he saw each day. Great work once again, wonderful videos!
WOWZA! This one was worth waiting for! Thank you. Stories from the Front Street? "Big Mike" Clapis was a street vendor in the 30s, and he eventually had a bicycle shop there. He had emigrated from Italy with his wife Frances - and they were a sight to see together: he over 6 feet tall, she less than 5. I've been perusing the photos to see if I can spot his shop (or even them!). They eventually moved to Franklin Avenue. Their son, Joe, went to HPHS and Trinity and rose to be Connecticut State Statistician. Frances would tell the story of the '36 flood, and how they were helped by the Fox Family (of G. Fox & Co. fame), particularly by Lewis Fox, who became a life long family friend and had a long tenure on the Hartford School Board.
Great job, Dan, as usual. Great scholarship. Very sad to see all those lost buildings from the 18th and 19th Centuries. What a difference in preservation between Wethersfield and Hartford, the latter apparently becoming the major modern city “helped” by I-84 and I-91 cutting through the city. Sadder still, those old restaurants on Front Street could have spawned developed of Hartford’s own little Italy perhaps comparable Boston’s North End. Fortunately, we at least have Franklin Avenue where the Italian immigrants moved.
Whadda-ya mean? Huh? Ever drive down the Silas Deane and see MILES of junk on both sides of the highway? Even the public buildings no better than the Commercioal stuff. Ya call tthat preservation? Planning?
One quick comment. Regarding B. DePasquale & Sons restaurant, we always pronounced it as: D Pas Quels, now a part of Mozzicato's Bakery on Franklin Ave.
A Wonderful documentary. Towards the end you show a two story brick bldg on the RIGHT which is where the Sudarsky family (my mom's) landed in 1906 all 10 of them Lena and Edel and kids"Sadie(one son a Metalurgist at White Sands), Chana (abandoned at Ellis Island and whose son Sam Berman became a well known artist in NYC). Isadore (a Dentist...$2 a filling) Pearl (my Mom) , Matilda with 1 leg got 2 years of college and became Bookeeper at The Courant for 45 years, Beatrice, Reuben (an attoreney) who did I forget?. Mom hated cats because in that filthy slum everyone had a big male "ratter" who earned his keep.....not for petting. My Zedie (Edel---an honorific) ran a tailor shop on Sheldon Street which later became Lanza's Pizza (the best) where I spent most oif my high school dating........and one of my brothers became a Photographer (Alvin). another a big time NYC litigator (Bobby) and I, an Architect. Before I hit the big time in NYC I designed the Hotel America whichj you will note is the ONLY distinguished building on the Plaza. In NYC I worked for Wallace Harrison on the Phoenix Building, for Eggers on the new Cathedral and for Victor Lundy on the Unitarian Meeting House. My Mom married David Sisitzsky from Kovno and we were all born and brought up in Warehouise Point until Mom couldn't stand it anymore. We all grew up in a little grocery store there and in Windsor Locks and were the delivery boys. From Dad, I learned hard work and compassion for other people since most of our customers lived from payday-to-payday. He told me once that he one week had $5 left in his pocket after he paid his 2 employees. The old days!
Incredible content Dan! Will you be producing anything on the south west neighborhood? I attended Kennelly School and lived in that neighborhood, I would love to see some old images of that area!
It’s sickening to see what happens to this neighborhood, but at least you can sort of understand why the repeat floods made the neighborhood appear untenable to the planners at the time.
The Morgan Street Jail was on Market Street. It was built as an annex to the Brown School. I talk about it in this video: ua-cam.com/video/OrBuoHX5K3s/v-deo.html
I'm the grandson of Patrick J DePasquale and I want to thank you for preserving my families history
Thank you!
This is very interesting - and intensely heartbreaking! You've done an amazing job documenting the 'what', have you considered ding a video about the 'how' these changes came about? That is, what decisions were made by whom and when? Thanks again for your great work!
That's a good suggestion. Quite a bit of research to consider!
great Video as usual Dan
Every town's Planning & Zoning Commission and Land Use should have to watch this "progress" in pictures...sad losses for Hartford.
Terrific presentation.
Dan the man great content 👌🤗
My grandfather used to work for Fox Press, in the building on the northeast corner of front and state streets up until they moved to the North Meadows to make room for Constitution Plaza. I’ve never even been to the neighborhood, but thanks to your videos I can imagine all the sights and sounds he saw each day. Great work once again, wonderful videos!
Thanks!
WOWZA! This one was worth waiting for! Thank you.
Stories from the Front Street?
"Big Mike" Clapis was a street vendor in the 30s, and he eventually had a bicycle shop there. He had emigrated from Italy with his wife Frances - and they were a sight to see together: he over 6 feet tall, she less than 5. I've been perusing the photos to see if I can spot his shop (or even them!). They eventually moved to Franklin Avenue. Their son, Joe, went to HPHS and Trinity and rose to be Connecticut State Statistician. Frances would tell the story of the '36 flood, and how they were helped by the Fox Family (of G. Fox & Co. fame), particularly by Lewis Fox, who became a life long family friend and had a long tenure on the Hartford School Board.
Thanks for sharing that!
Great job, Dan, as usual. Great scholarship. Very sad to see all those lost buildings from the 18th and 19th Centuries. What a difference in preservation between Wethersfield and Hartford, the latter apparently becoming the major modern city “helped” by I-84 and I-91 cutting through the city. Sadder still, those old restaurants on Front Street could have spawned developed of Hartford’s own little Italy perhaps comparable Boston’s North End. Fortunately, we at least have Franklin Avenue where the Italian immigrants moved.
Whadda-ya mean? Huh? Ever drive down the Silas Deane and see MILES of junk on both sides of the highway? Even the public buildings no better than the Commercioal stuff. Ya call tthat preservation? Planning?
One quick comment. Regarding B. DePasquale & Sons restaurant, we always pronounced it as: D Pas Quels, now a part of Mozzicato's Bakery on Franklin Ave.
Thanks for letting me know!
Very well presented. Thank you.
Good Stuff Dan… do you have anything on the train station area, Union Place?
There are some pictures. I haven't looked into that too much yet, except for the train station itself.
My grandfather worked at Heimovitch bros before the war.
Very well made and interesting !
A Wonderful documentary. Towards the end you show a two story brick bldg on the RIGHT
which is where the Sudarsky family (my mom's) landed in 1906 all 10 of them Lena and Edel and kids"Sadie(one son a Metalurgist at White Sands), Chana (abandoned at Ellis Island and whose son Sam Berman became a well known artist in NYC). Isadore (a Dentist...$2 a filling) Pearl (my Mom) , Matilda with 1 leg got 2 years of college and became Bookeeper at The Courant for 45 years, Beatrice, Reuben (an attoreney) who did I forget?. Mom hated cats because in that filthy slum everyone had a big male "ratter" who earned his keep.....not for petting. My Zedie (Edel---an honorific) ran a tailor shop on Sheldon Street which later became Lanza's Pizza (the best) where I spent most oif my high school dating........and one of my brothers became a Photographer (Alvin). another a big time NYC litigator (Bobby) and I, an Architect. Before I hit the big time in NYC I designed the Hotel America whichj you will note is the ONLY distinguished building on the Plaza. In NYC I worked for Wallace Harrison on the Phoenix Building, for Eggers on the new Cathedral and for Victor Lundy on the Unitarian Meeting House. My Mom married David Sisitzsky from Kovno and we were all born and brought up in Warehouise Point until Mom couldn't stand it anymore. We all grew up in a little grocery store there and in Windsor Locks and were the delivery boys. From Dad, I learned hard work and compassion for other people since most of our customers lived from payday-to-payday. He told me once that he one week had $5 left in his pocket after he paid his 2 employees. The old days!
Thank you for sharing that family history! You might enjoy my other videos about Hartford's old East Side: ua-cam.com/video/P1jccDjzIG0/v-deo.html
Incredible content Dan! Will you be producing anything on the south west neighborhood? I attended Kennelly School and lived in that neighborhood, I would love to see some old images of that area!
I don't have too much about that area. I'll have to look into it. Thanks for watching!
It’s sickening to see what happens to this neighborhood, but at least you can sort of understand why the repeat floods made the neighborhood appear untenable to the planners at the time.
Painful modern photos indeed
What year was the Morgan Street jail built? Cause it didn't go from de'pasquales to a garage. There was a jail there for years. Thanks.
The Morgan Street Jail was on Market Street. It was built as an annex to the Brown School. I talk about it in this video: ua-cam.com/video/OrBuoHX5K3s/v-deo.html