Picture Enfield - Then and Now

ENFIELD, CT — Today's installment of this weekly Enfield history series, courtesy of the Facebook group Picture Enfield, takes a 1970s look at an historic building in the heart of Hazardville - the former Hazardville Hotel, which at the time of this photo contained Hazardville Package Store and ABC Silver and Gold.

Hazardville Package Store, which coincidentally was the first place I bought booze at age 15 about a hundred years ago, was a longtime institution in the village, eventually moving into a freestanding building a few doors down at 306 Hazard Avenue. The business closed a few years ago; the last posting on its Facebook page was dated July 22, 2015.

As far as ABC Silver and Gold goes, I know absolutely nothing about it, so I assume it was short-lived. Any reader input on that would be greatly appreciated.

Constructed in 1857, the old hotel building sits on the southeast corner of Route 190 and South Maple Street, and has been the subject of many legends over the years, including unconfirmed reports of having been a brothel at one time, and Hazardville itself being named in honor of the Hazard Powder Company during a banquet at the hotel.

One true story is that in 1902, a clandestine prize fight was scheduled in the hotel ballroom by a promoter from nearby Springfield, Mass., where boxing was prohibited. A neighboring storekeeper was telephoned by Springfield police to confirm the date and time of the fight, as they were determined to raid the illicit event.

For many years, small businesses have occupied a pair of storefronts on the building's lower level, while apartments are located on the upper two floors. Some recent tenants have included American Goldfinch, Cranberry Scoop, Gayle's Thyme Herbal Apothecary and Teaberry Treasures. The commercial spaces are currently occupied by Mane Habitat and (soon) the Enfield Democratic Town Committee.

Here is a photo of the building as it looks today:

(Tim Jensen/Patch Media Corp.)

Last week's trivia answer:
Last week's trivia question was, "The location of one of Enfield's most popular pizza shops in the 1970s is currently in the middle of a roadway. Name the shop and its site." The answer: Pete's Pizza, which operated for many years at 127 Elm Street. When reconfiguration of the traffic patterns and intersections around St. James Avenue, Carol Street, Riviera Drive and Elm Street took place in the 1990s, the building which had contained Pete's Pizza and Wenc's Package Store, and later housed Gem Jewelry, was demolished to provide a straight alignment of Freshwater Boulevard into the St. James neighborhood. I have been unable to locate a photo of Pete's Pizza, or Wenc's Package Store for that matter; if anyone has one, please share. Here is the look of the area today, courtesy of Google Maps.

This week's trivia question:
After what former Enfield resident is the South River Street boat launch named? Post the answer in the comments section below, or on the Enfield Patch Facebook page.