What’s new in town history?Chuck Coursey investigates with “Trout Brook Tales”

Written by Natalie K. Pollock

Photography submitted

Chuck Coursey, a long-time West Hartford resident with a seemingly insatiable curiosity, presents the Trout Brook Tales podcast for those who share his interest.

“I love history. At Holy Cross I was a history major. We’ve lived here for 60 years and have five kids. It’s also important to embrace new technology. Pramod Pradhan, who is from Nepal and works at the Noah Webster Library, suggested a podcast and said the library could help. They have a sound-proof studio, and he helps with production,” Coursey said.

Town historian Mary Donahue and Coursey’s longtime friend assists as a co-host and researcher on Trout Brook Tails.

So, in January of 2024, the two men began working together on a history podcast for the town, with assistance from town historian Mary Donahue. Coursey and Donahue have known each other for years from the time their children were attending school together. She was named the town’s historian last June and, with a background in architectural history and historic preservation, Donahue began working out of the Noah Webster Library in the history room. 

The Trout Brook Tales podcast focuses on stories about the town’s history.

“Not just about Noah Webster but also average people that have not been represented in West Hartford stories,” said Coursey.

For example, he explains, most people are not aware that famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright wanted to build a theater in the 1950’s on the northwest corner of Park and Main Streets.

“There was a phone company building on that corner, and Wright had the money to build. There was no community outreach to solicit residential reaction, but there were many public hearings. There is a clip of Wright on a local talk show saying (he was dealing with) ‘small-minded people’ in town,” said Coursey.

Coursey does extensive research for each topic he presents on his podcast, which is produced at the Noah Webster Library with help from Pramod Pradham.

He also related a story about a Black man named Bristow, a freed slave for whom Bristow Middle School is named.

According to Coursey, about 150 years ago there were many slaves in West Hartford. Bristow was owned by Thomas and Sarah Hooker of the West District of Hartford. On the eve of the American Revolution Bristow bought his freedom and became a landowner but stayed close to the Hooker family until his death, according to historical records. 

“I think it’s important to learn from the past (like the stories about slaves) and to strive to do better in the future. Life is about telling stories. The big insurance companies insured slaves at one time, which we found out through research. We do one podcast episode each month,” Coursey said.

His most recent episode deals with West Hartford during the Civil War. There was a training camp on Walbridge and Prospect Roads near the Hamilton family property. There is another story about the Hamilton Heights family, as well as Bristow Middle School today.

Chuck Coursey co-founded a public affairs marketing firm with his wife Mary Brennan Coursey, has been active town leadership, and has been involved with such large West Harford projects as Blue Back Square, the Delamar Hotel and the installation of Connie the Whale’s tail.

“I learn a lot from interesting people. I have interviewed historians such as (the late) Tracey Wilson, former historian at the Noah Webster, and Mary Donahue, the town historian now, and Matt Warshauer, a history professor at Central Connecticut State University who has written extensively about the Civil War and slavery,” said Coursey.

He explained that he works on the podcast because it brings him joy. It is his hobby. 

Coursey has also continued working in marketing and community outreach. He and his wife Mary Brennan Coursey are principals in a public affairs communications founded in 1991. 

“My niche has been word-of-mouth marketing and stakeholder engagement fort high profile public policy issues such as zoning and legislation,” Coursey said.

One of his latest projects has been for the Cetacean Society whose mission is to protect whales, dolphins, porpoises and their habitats through public education. He was tasked with helping to save Connie the Whale which once stood on the front lawn of the Children’s Museum before the property was sold to a residential developer.

“It would have cost $300,000 to move the whale and $50,000 to just cut the tail, which was paid for by Howard Rappaport, a New York developer. The tail is installed across the street,” said Coursey.

Coursey served three terms on the West Hartford Town Council and as the town’s Deputy Mayor. “During his tenure he was an…advocate for the development of Blue Back Square and chaired the Town Council’s construction oversight committee for the project,” according to his company’s website.

Coursey also currently serves as a co-chair of the town’s America 250 Planning Committee and chair of the West Hartford Commission on the Arts. He is a board member of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce and the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History.

Historian Donahue hosts and is the executive producer of her own Connecticut Public history podcast she calls Grating through Nutmeg. It is a statewide history podcast under the auspices of the West Hartford Public Library.

“There have already been three episodes of Trout Brook Trails: one on Elizabeth Park, on A.C. Peterson’s ice cream parlor and West Hartford in the Civil War. There is no shortage of stories. We have a long list of topics,” Donahue said.

When she was asked to describe her long-time friend Coursey, she said, “He is great. He has lived here almost his whole life. There is always someone who knows someone who knows him. To be a good host you need a good radio voice which he has. But Chuck also takes a topic and digs into the research and knows who to reach out to if he needs that.  He is interested in history and brings that interest into each episode. There is a good combination of a good guest and good research. Some are people with first-hand experience like a lady who talked about the Circus Fire.”

Coursey asked that interested listeners “Like” the program and subscribe to it, “Share” it with their friends, and share their ideas on topics. He gets a lot.

To find the podcast search Trout Brook Tales on Apple, Amazon and Spotify podcasts. Photos, videos, and links can be found on the podcast’s Facebook page. WHL