Trout Brook Tales

Episode 15: West Hartford & The Civil War

When President Lincoln called for volunteers in April 1861, West Hartford answered. In this episode, host Chuck Coursey is joined by Town Historian Mary Donohue and CCSU History Professor Matt Warshauer to explore how this small Connecticut community was shaped by the Civil War - from its first enlistee to the monument that still stands today.

Episode 14: Rooted in Verse: The James Wallace Pine Family Legacy in West Hartford

James Wallace Pine - laborer, lay preacher, Civil War organizer, and published poet - lived a life that defied the narrow margins history often assigned to Black men in nineteenth-century New England. Join Brett Freiburger, Local History Librarian at the West Hartford Public Library and Trout Brook Tales host Chuck Coursey as they explore the Pine Family and learn about one family's quiet story of loss, resilience, creative spirit, and deep roots in a place that doesn't always remember them.

Episode 13: The Life & Legacy of Bristow with Dr. Booker DeVaughn

In this episode of Trout Brook Tales, we sit down with Dr. Booker DeVaughn for a powerful conversation about Bristow, a remarkable figure in West Hartford's history. Born in Africa in 1731, Bristow was enslaved by the Hooker family before purchasing his freedom in 1775 and becoming a respected agricultural expert and community member. Dr. DeVaughn has dedicated over four decades to bringing Bristow's story to life, a commitment that led to the 2005 naming of Bristow Middle School.

Episode 12: West Hartford in World War I - The Heroic Lives of Francis Velhage and Waldo Hayes

World War One transformed American communities in profound and lasting ways, and West Hartford was no exception.    In this episode of Trout Brook Tales, host Chuck Coursey and special guest Kathryn Coursey (Chuck's niece and fellow history enthusiast) explore the heroic yet tragically brief lives of two young West Hartford soldiers—Waldo Hayes and Francis Velhage.    Their courage and sacrifice would be memorialized in 1922 with the establishment of West Hartford’s Hayes-Velhage Post 96 of The American Legion, forever linking their names to the town's history.

Episode 11: From Talcott Elementary to the Cabbage Patch Craze: How Coleco Turned a West Hartford School into Toy History

In the 1980s, Cabbage Patch Kids weren't just a toy—they were a cultural phenomenon that sparked shopping frenzies, made headlines, and became one of the most sought-after gifts in American history. But few people know that the epicenter of this craze was right here in West Hartford. Join West Hartford Town Historian Mary Donohue and me as we explore the fascinating story of Coleco, the toy company that transformed the former Talcott Elementary School into its bustling headquarters. We'll uncover how a West Hartford company became the manufacturer behind America's hottest toy and relive the wild days when parents lined up for hours—sometimes even fought—to get their hands on a Cabbage Patch Kid. Discover how West Hartford played a starring role in one of the greatest toy success stories of all time.