Town of West Hartford

Facts about West Hartford

Town/City established:

• Incorporated in 1854

Named from:

• Was known as the West Division of Hartford before its incorporation.

County:

• Hartford

Notable citizens (past and present):

• Noah Webster, author of the American dictionary
• Sarah Whitman Hooker, a patriot during the American Revolution
• Bristow, slave of Sarah Whitman and Thomas Hart Hooker, who bought his freedom
• William Hall, a teacher, principal and superintendent of WH public schools
• Oliver Butterworth, a noted children's author and educator
• Charles M. Pond, railroad tycoon who donated his estate in memory of his wife Elizabeth
• Reverend Dr. Wallace G. Fiske, a proponent of interfaith and inter-racial programs
• Frederick B. Rentschler, created a radial air-cooled aircraft engine
• Abraham J. Feldman, founder and editor of the Connecticut Jewish Ledger
• Hilda Crosby Standish, crusader for birth control and lecturer on health issues for young girls
• David T. Chase, real estate mogul, Forbes named him one of the 400 richest Americans
• Francis Murphy, became publisher of the Hartford Times, and was instrumental in building Bradley International Airport
• Bice Clemow, editor of West Hartford News, and spearheaded the founding of the University of Hartford
• James Naughton, Conard High School grad and two-time Tony Award winner
• John O'Hurley, best known as Peterman on Seinfeld
• William Purtell, first West Hartford resident to serve in the U.S. Senate, founder of Holo-Krome Corp.
• Mike Sherman, opened Rockledge Golf course in 1924
• E. Clayton Gengras, self-made millionaire, philanthropist, chief executive of Gengras Motor Cars

Top Five Attractions:

• Elizabeth Park Rose Garden
• West Hartford Center & Blue Back Square
• Noah Webster House & West Harford Historical Society
• The Children's Museum of Connecticut
• Playhouse on Park

Annual Special Events:

• Martin Luther King Celebration, January
• West Hartford's Cookin'!, March
• Webster's War of the Words, April
• Family Fishing Festival, May
• Memorial Day Parade, May
• Celebrate! West Hartford, June
• Japan Summer Festival, June
• Pride Day, June
• Shakespeare Festival, July
• Yoga on LaSalle, July
• Center Streets bicycle event, August
• Annual Pooch Plunge, August
• ArtWalk Juried Community Arts Festival, September
• Park Road Parade, October
• Halloween Stroll, October
• West Hartford Hauntings, October
• Holiday Stroll, Thursday after Thanksgiving
• Blue Back 5K Mitten Run, December
• Fire on Ice Chanukah Celebration, December

Quality of town/city:

• The town prides itself on its attractiveness, customer service, safe neighborhoods, vibrant business districts, family-friendly attractions, safe walkable streets and rich history.