The Chamber of Commerce kicks off its new foundation with a book launch and fundraiser

Written by Tracey Weiss

Photography submitted

 William H. Hall is back in the news and helping the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce promote its new foundation.

Almost 100 years since West Hartford Connecticut - A History by William H. Hall was published, Hall’s book is serving as the perfect way to start fundraising for the West Hartford Chamber Foundation. Profits from book sales will benefit the West Hartford Chamber Foundation and its efforts “to support the economic, civic, cultural and social well-being of the West Hartford community,” according to chamber leaders who have republished the book.

Originally commissioned and published by the West Hartford Chamber in 1930, the book offers a comprehensive history of the town’s evolution from early colonial settlement to the early 20^th century. Hall’s accounting is a look into the geographic, social, and political transformations that gave the town its start.

There’s a deep connection between bringing the book back to life and the new foundation, according to West Hartford Chamber President & CEO Chris Conway, who provided a new foreword to the book. Town Historian Mary Donohue wrote a new introduction.

The West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, with the help of the town, launched the William H. Hall’s republished book about the history of the town at the Fairview Chapel in Fairview Cemetery in mid-September. A sold-out crowd listened as Chamber head Chris Conway, Town Historian Mary Donohue, and Brett Freiburger, the Local History Librarian for the West Hartford Public Library, were panelists for a discussion about Hall and the book, moderated by Chuck Coursey, Chair of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Republishing the book gives a new generation the opportunity to explore that history while also using its proceeds to invest in the community’s future through the West Hartford Chamber Foundation,” Conway recently said in a release.

The need for a foundation was on the chamber’s docket for years, he added.

“The chamber is a 501(c)(6), a not-for-profit,” Conway said. “We’re not a charitable organization, but it’s very common for a chamber to want to do things in the community. Larger chambers form foundations—it’s something that’s just done. I’ve been here for eight years. It’s been on my radar since I took over.”

Coming out of Covid, Conway decided it was time to revisit the topic. “A year ago, I said I want to have this up and running by June 30, 2026. We got a committee together,” with members Chris Clarke, Christine Looby, Aaron Frankel, Mary Kay Curtiss, Bernard Cavaler and Mark Walker.

Almost 100 years since West Hartford Connecticut - A History by William H. Hall was published, Hall’s book is serving as the perfect way to start fundraising for the West Hartford Chamber Foundation. Profits from book sales will benefit the West Hartford Chamber Foundation and its efforts “to support the economic, civic, cultural and social well-being of the West Hartford community,” according to the current chamber leaders who have republished the book.

The foundation will be able to support and enhance what the chamber does. For instance, Conway said, the foundation will be able to add new avenues of education and economic support to existing events, as well as to student activities.

But for now, the idea is to watch the foundation grow. “We want to start slowly and intentionally,” Conway said, “and transition things going to the foundation. As time goes on, we’ll see what the needs are.”   

Conway anticipates that private donations and grants will also help fund the foundation. This year, the proceeds raised from the teacup auction at the Chamber’s annual golf tournament went directly to the foundation. Sales from Hall’s book will help the effort too.

The chamber, with the help of the town, launched the book at the Fairview Chapel in Fairview Cemetery in mid-September. A sold-out crowd listened as Conway, Donohue, and Brett Freiburger, the Local History Librarian for the West Hartford Public Library, were panelists for a discussion about Hall and the book, moderated by Chuck Coursey, the Chair of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

It was the perfect place to hold the fundraiser, since Hall himself helped establish Fairview Cemetery and is buried there. Attendees got to enjoy the chapel and learn some of its history, which hasn’t been used in more than 50 years. WHL

Copies of History of West Hartford are currently available at Kimberly Gifts, Good Cause Gifts, River Bend Book Shop and the Noah Webster House Gift Shop, as well as through online ordering at WHChamber.com.