Wallingford CT Film Shows Rare Glimpse of the Past
The 1930’s was a decade of amazing ups and downs: the Empire State Building and Golden Gate Bridge opened, Prohibition ended, FDR’s “New Deal” was born, and the FHA, SEC and the FBI were all established. On the other hand, the Great Depression was winding down, the Hindenberg crashed and burned, the Dust Bowl began and the Lindbergh baby is kidnapped and later found dead a few miles from his home.
These were all major news stories and well covered in the media of the day, and there are few people living who can remember that era with some clarity. An adult 20 year old living in the 1930’s would now be between 94 and 103 years old, an age group that is less than 1% of the total population!. But there has been little known about local Wallingford history – at least until now.
Wallingford resident Tarn Granucci found a canister of film while cleaning out his father’s house in 2005, and the result is a treasure trove of scenes of life in Wallingford as it was in the 1930’s. Despite the travails of the period in which it’s set, the approximately 30 minute film is remarkably upbeat. Set to some lively period jazz music, the film shows scenes of several now-defunct businesses, including Caplan’s Market, Wallingford’s airport, Marx’s Pharmacy, and Heliman’s Bakery, as well as some that still exist, like White Way Laundry and Choate School (now Choate Rosemary Hall).
Another interesting scene shows a visit to Wallingford by Norwegian skating star Sonja Henie, a visit which no one can seem to explain. It’s fascinating to watch, as I’m sure you’ll agree! The video has been split into two parts, and the first one takes about 30 seconds or so to start, but the short wait is well worth the trip into Wallingford's past! (Check out the funny "Keystone Kops"-style scene near the end of the first video and what appears to be a Halloween party near the end of the second video!)
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