End of an Era

The economic engine of Connecticut since the 19th century has been precision metal-working.
Jet engines and nuclear submarines are made here.  Waterbury is the Brass City.  New Britain is the Hardware City.  If you own an old Stanley screw driver, hammer, tape measure, lock
or drill bit, chances are it was made in New Britain.

But, even though Stanley Black & Decker still has its world headquarters at the edge of New Britain, the jobs are elsewhere now.  The 19th century Stanley Works factory has been idle
 for 20 years.  Time to take it down. 

Party at the Pond House

The party was winding down.

Bernard

Bernard is a friendly guy who doesn't get photographed very often.
He sat for a moment outside Elizabeth Park's Pond House Cafe.

Time for a smoke.

Morley School Turns 90

The neighborhood elementary school my kids attended turned 90.  Parents, students, teachers and alums gathered outside before a ceremony inside the school.  It is a highly ranked school in a town with highly ranked schools, with a good faculty and attended by generally good kids.

We bought a house in this neighborhood 38 years ago in large part because of the school, even though we didn't yet have kids, and because of the proximity of Elizabeth Park.  Good call.

Celebrate West Hartford

If it is an early June weekend, it must be Celebrate West Hartford.

Let's steer the little ones away from the rides and the junk food.

Lots of good crafts.  Some went home with us.

There is a quiet spot if things get overwhelming. 

Willa got a new tie-dyed dress.  She "borrowed" Grandpa's hat.

Hazel tried to escape off to the right.

There is a miniature golf course with Hartford/West Hartford buildings.

And it wouldn't be Celebrate West Hartford without performances by students in West Hartford's award-winning music programs.  This is the Sedgwick Middle School jazz band.

Saundra and Chris

Saundra and Chris were talking over cups of coffee at Story and Soil Coffee, a small but popular new coffee shop on Capitol Avenue in Hartford.  (Don't blame me;  I didn't name it.)

Saundra is a University of Hartford student, concentrating in graphic design and photography.  

Chris works in a restaurant but has hopes of starting up a photography and videography business.

(Do you know how intimidating it is to photograph two people and learn that they are photographers,

especially when you are shooting into the light and have to use the damned flash?)

Shane

Shane runs a big construction company.  His company does steel, concrete, welding and related contruction work on the nearby state highway, at the Capitol, on high rise office buildings, the new baseball stadium, etc.  Shane and his family live down the street from the Capitol.

Shane's wife and he opened Capitol Ice Cream in his neighborhood the day before I stopped by.

They felt there should be a place for their kids and others to stop for good ice cream

without having to go out to West Hartford.

The official opening is in a month. They already have several other food businesses in the neighborhood.  I hope they are as successful with their ice cream shop as they have been
with their other neighborhood businesses.