Wonderful piece of shopping history - I remember accompanying my Mom into Hartford to shop at G Fox many many years ago. I mean, this was a time when most people in the suburbs went shopping out of town. Delightful memories.
Fascinating video. I have a 1929Ford Tudor that was originally sold by Brown Thomson and remained in the area until 1985 when I bought it and it now resides in Cromwell CT
I also worked at the Brown, Thomson and Co. Restaurant at the time of it's opening in 1980. I had also worked for Jay Dumond at the Brownstone Restaurant that was nearby.
Of all the stores I knew of (other than Wise-Smith which went out long before I was born) Brown Thomson & Co. was the one that I didn't get to experience, even as a little kid...but I sensed had a rich history. I do recall walking through the building when it was a part of G. Fox before it was converted to the Richardson Mall in the 80s. Thank you so much for the deep and thoughtful research and rich storytelling.
would love to see what the apartments looked now and then. but a great video. your videos on Hartford are great. but sad to see what Hartford architecture was and what it is now. so much for progress.
I worked at the restaurant known as BT's during the '80's and if you opened any of the emergency doors in the dining room they led to stairwells that were untouched from the time of the department store! Origanal paint, tiles, etc. Also , I was working as a host there and an elderly woman came in, looked around quite confused and asked if this was still Brown Thompson Department store. I had to tell her, no , it closed twenty years ago!
Yet another great video, walked in and by these buildings billions of times in the late 70’s as a child all the way up till the mid 90’s as a teenager. Never had a clue to it’s history. I grew up to be a history buff and never thought to go back and look at the history of my hometown. I appreciate your work.
Well done! Always amazed at BT’s network of stores, as evidenced by the bronze plaque (New York, Manchester, Chemnitz, Paris, St Paul); wonder why that mix? G Fox up next? Lots of great stories from my era about Beatrice Fox Auerbach! Thanks!
@@historywithdansterner263 Im thinking that it could be a two-part video. The history prior to the sale of the May Department Stores and the rapid changes that came after...since they coincided with the rapid redevelopment, suburban expansion, highway development and the eventual decline of downtown Hartford as a shopping destination. Or...you could do a video that stops at the time that Beatrice Fox Auerbach takes over...and creates the modern store that many of us recall. Either way, Im sure you'll more than do it justice. Your videos are some of the best I've ever seen of any city.
Thank you for this well done video. I am a Starr descendant and enjoyed the part about the Bee Hive. B P Starr is my ggg gf. I have some of his personal items from that time 🙂
Wonderful piece of shopping history - I remember accompanying my Mom into Hartford to shop at G Fox many many years ago. I mean, this was a time when most people in the suburbs went shopping out of town. Delightful memories.
This was facinating!
Superb scholarship and video. In this video particularly, your famous ‘floating morphing red rectangle’ helps the viewer immensely! 👍
Thanks!
Fascinating video. I have a 1929Ford Tudor that was originally sold by Brown Thomson and remained in the area until 1985 when I bought it and it now resides in Cromwell CT
That's great!
I also worked at the Brown, Thomson and Co. Restaurant at the time of it's opening in 1980. I had also worked for Jay Dumond at the Brownstone Restaurant that was nearby.
Great stuff, I walk past this building every day
Of all the stores I knew of (other than Wise-Smith which went out long before I was born) Brown Thomson & Co. was the one that I didn't get to experience, even as a little kid...but I sensed had a rich history. I do recall walking through the building when it was a part of G. Fox before it was converted to the Richardson Mall in the 80s.
Thank you so much for the deep and thoughtful research and rich storytelling.
Thank you for watching!
Excellent!! Dan thanks so much!
would love to see what the apartments looked now and then. but a great video. your videos on Hartford are great. but sad to see what Hartford architecture was and what it is now. so much for progress.
I always enjoy your videos! Thank you
I worked at the restaurant known as BT's during the '80's and if you opened any of the emergency doors in the dining room they led to stairwells that were untouched from the time of the department store! Origanal paint, tiles, etc. Also , I was working as a host there and an elderly woman came in, looked around quite confused and asked if this was still Brown Thompson Department store. I had to tell her, no , it closed twenty years ago!
Thanks for sharing that!
Yet another great video, walked in and by these buildings billions of times in the late 70’s as a child all the way up till the mid 90’s as a teenager. Never had a clue to it’s history. I grew up to be a history buff and never thought to go back and look at the history of my hometown. I appreciate your work.
Thanks for watching!
Well done! Always amazed at BT’s network of stores, as evidenced by the bronze plaque (New York, Manchester, Chemnitz, Paris, St Paul); wonder why that mix?
G Fox up next? Lots of great stories from my era about Beatrice Fox Auerbach!
Thanks!
I have to build up the energy to tackle a subject as big as G. Fox 😅
@@historywithdansterner263 Im thinking that it could be a two-part video. The history prior to the sale of the May Department Stores and the rapid changes that came after...since they coincided with the rapid redevelopment, suburban expansion, highway development and the eventual decline of downtown Hartford as a shopping destination. Or...you could do a video that stops at the time that Beatrice Fox Auerbach takes over...and creates the modern store that many of us recall.
Either way, Im sure you'll more than do it justice. Your videos are some of the best I've ever seen of any city.
@@rovingdesigner7431 I'm working on it now! Thanks for the suggestion!
Thank you for this well done video. I am a Starr descendant and enjoyed the part about the Bee Hive. B P Starr is my ggg gf. I have some of his personal items from that time 🙂
Thanks for watching. You have a connection to an important part of Hartford's commercial history!
Great video!