Hartford's Old East Side: Market Street before Constitution Plaza

This video is about buildings that used to stand on the east side of Market Street in Hartford, Connecticut, before they were torn down to make way for Constitution Plaza. There's a restaurant that used to be frequented by politicians and celebrities, businesses that produced coffee, silverware and radios, and two historic churches. All are now lost.
#hartfordct #hartford #connecticut #silverplate #vintageradio #italianamericanhistory
Learn more about the Old Stone Schoolhouse in my video about the early Connecticut geography textbook writer Jesse Olney: • Two Early American Chi...
The photograph of the Aetna Radiophone Corporation of America is from the collections of the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut: www.vrcmct.org/
Many of the photographs used in this video are from the William H. Thompson Collection at the Connecticut State Library: tinyurl.com/yc822e5f
Six photographs are from the Connecticut Historical Society:
(1) The Farmers & Mechanics Bank: hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:18758
(2) The Cut Price Market: hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:9839
(3) Allyn & Blanchard: tinyurl.com/4u8ftmdc
(4) Flood of 1854: hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:9934
(5) Coffee Shop Interior: tinyurl.com/2p9pewne
(6) Fire engine drawn by 3 horses: hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:13656
Some of the photographs are from the Hartford History Center at the Hartford Public Library: hplct.ent.sirsi.net/client/en...
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historicbuildingsct.com/
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[@michelebradley929]

Thanks, Dan. So interesting. I'm Michele Miano Bradley, Mickey's daughter. I remember the whole block, our Mickey's at 18 Market. I went to St. Anthony's. Been to Casa Andrea. Love and appreciate your research

[@historywithdansterner263]

Thank you for watching! Do you have any pictures of what the restaurant looked like inside?

[@Hadd13]

Great video Dan

[@DeeKomedy]

oh wow very interesting !!

[@derek2479]

Thank you for making these well-done and informational videos. I grew up in the area and lived in downtown Hartford for several years. I had to laugh at the end when you say "...if you like this video, click the "like" button and subscribe". I did both, but I don't "like" the video. It is a local example of how we've destroyed many U.S. communities. We wiped out what seemed to have been a vibrant neighborhood and replaced it with what was seen as the future but turned out to be a couple of glass towers surrounded by concrete. Those last two or so minutes made me especially sad. I'm figuring that those buildings have been mostly empty for the past two years. And even pre-pandemic they were populated only during weekdays by people who live in the suburbs. I'm as guilty as the next guy so no judgement from me but I've come to understand what we've done. Next up..look at what we destroyed with the I-84 aqueduct.

[@historywithdansterner263]

Thanks. Yes, it is very sad what was lost! The human scale of things was removed in favor of concrete.

[@RileyAerialMedia]

Great video - your “then and now” photo comparisons always make me feel sad. This area had such a neighborhood feel then with all the unique buildings and businesses and now everything seems so corporate and cold. Change is inevitable I suppose. Great work and thanks for sharing!

[@bigdaddysantos]

The last shot of the Constitution Plaza construction site really is a symbol of the “raze and rebuild better” ethos that dominated the 50s and 60s. As a historic preservationist I am certainly not trying to justify what was done - but think about it: we came out of a horrendous war that we would rather leave behind us (especially in the minds of the immigrants that settled here), science was doing so many amazing things ( Salk vaccine), and we looked to engineers and architects to recreate the new world ( p&w engines, innovative construction like the boat building) - and they were more than happy to use their new found skills. Financiers (banks, insurance companies) would rather start fresh investments, and not rely on, and rehabilitate, risky old ones. It all culminated with the space program and a moon landing. And what was done did drive some economic energy in Hartford for a period…but was it sustainable or long lived? And did it serve all economic classes, races, and cultures equally? I think not - it exacerbated our differences since it reflected the dominant view- and I think contributed to the terrible riots in the 60s … We (our culture and Hartford residents and leaders ) had vision, ideas, energy, money, and….hubris. Lots came out of that era that was good and defines us as a people, but at a terrible cost and loss of our historic identity. Thanks Dan for reminding us of that. I hope we don’t continue to make the same decisions which in many people’s minds were mistakes…but I fear we will…

[@historywithdansterner263]

Thanks for those comments. It's important to understand the mindset and values of the planners at that time and their ideas about the future.

[@oldRoyaltypewriter]

Both Hartford and New Britain were victims of urban renewal.

[@sedumplant]

my father was co-owner of Superior Sheet Metal Works, of Albany Avenue. His company erected a steeple on a Hartford church. Is there any way to find out more about which church and what year this occurred? It had to be after 1938 but well before 1950. Thank you!

[@historywithdansterner263]

I'm sorry, I'm not sure which church that would be. Was it definitely in Hartford?

[@victorlopez2143]

Bring back memories of working in downtown Hartford for 'Swartz' Parking. Not sure I got the spelling correct. Our busiest times was around Christmas and the Lights festival. Place was really active. What happen to Channel 3 ?? WFSB building ? Don't see it there.. Oh well times change for the worst. Basically Hartford just 'Died'..

[@historywithdansterner263]

WFSB's Broadcast House building was torn down back in 2009 and the channel moved to Rocky Hill.