In 1854, West Hartford formally separated from Hartford. West Hartford, compiled in honor of the town's sesquicentennial, showcases its history from earliest settlement to more recent happenings, including the 2003 Cow Parade. With more than two hundred photographs, many previously unpublished, West Hartford recalls the past of this interesting community and celebrates its present. The Central Theater marquee survives, while Burnham's grocery, the Elm Theater, and the West Hartford Lanes, all pictured in these pages, are only memories. Other landmarks, such as the Quaker Lane Diner, the Woman's Exchange, Hall's Market, and the Kingswood Market, continue to serve the community.