Trout Brook Tales

On September 12, 1983, guard Victor Gerena walked out of the Wells Fargo Armored Services depot in West Hartford with over $7 million in cash - the largest cash robbery in American history at the time. Joining host Chuck Coursey to unpack it is the Hartford Courant's Edmund Mahoney, who knows this case better than anyone else .

The heist was tied to Los Macheteros, a clandestine group fighting for Puerto Rican independence, and Gerena vanished that same day — spending longer on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list than any fugitive in history. The money's never been recovered, and Gerena never resurfaced.

Join TBT Podcast host Chuck Coursey and West Hartford Town Historian Mary Donohue, who shares her extensive research on Fairview Cemetery. Together they explore the 71-acre "lawn plan" landscape and the notable figures buried there—from Nobel laureate Dr. John Franklin Enders to Governor Robert Hurley and aviation pioneer Frederick Rentschler.

When President Lincoln called for volunteers in April 1861, West Hartford answered. In this episode, host Chuck Coursey is joined by Town Historian Mary Donohue and CCSU History Professor Matt Warshauer to explore how this small Connecticut community was shaped by the Civil War - from its first enlistee to the monument that still stands today.

James Wallace Pine - laborer, lay preacher, Civil War organizer, and published poet - lived a life that defied the narrow margins history often assigned to Black men in nineteenth-century New England. Join Brett Freiburger, Local History Librarian at the West Hartford Public Library and Trout Brook Tales host Chuck Coursey as they explore the Pine Family and learn about one family's quiet story of loss, resilience, creative spirit, and deep roots in a place that doesn't always remember them.

In this episode of Trout Brook Tales, we sit down with Dr. Booker DeVaughn for a powerful conversation about Bristow, a remarkable figure in West Hartford's history. Born in Africa in 1731, Bristow was enslaved by the Hooker family before purchasing his freedom in 1775 and becoming a respected agricultural expert and community member. Dr. DeVaughn has dedicated over four decades to bringing Bristow's story to life, a commitment that led to the 2005 naming of Bristow Middle School.

World War One transformed American communities in profound and lasting ways, and West Hartford was no exception. 

In this episode of Trout Brook Tales, host Chuck Coursey and special guest Kathryn Coursey (Chuck's niece and fellow history enthusiast) explore the heroic yet tragically brief lives of two young West Hartford soldiers—Waldo Hayes and Francis Velhage. 

Their courage and sacrifice would be memorialized in 1922 with the establishment of West Hartford’s Hayes-Velhage Post 96 of The American Legion, forever linking their names to the town's history.

In the 1980s, Cabbage Patch Kids weren't just a toy—they were a cultural phenomenon that sparked shopping frenzies, made headlines, and became one of the most sought-after gifts in American history. But few people know that the epicenter of this craze was right here in West Hartford.

Join West Hartford Town Historian Mary Donohue and me as we explore the fascinating story of Coleco, the toy company that transformed the former Talcott Elementary School into its bustling headquarters. We'll uncover how a West Hartford company became the manufacturer behind America's hottest toy and relive the wild days when parents lined up for hours—sometimes even fought—to get their hands on a Cabbage Patch Kid.

Discover how West Hartford played a starring role in one of the greatest toy success stories of all time.

Join West Hartford Public Library Local Historian Brett Freiburger and I as we discuss the life of Arnoldale Road resident Inez Temple, visionary designer and producer of pageants, dedicated teacher, world traveler, accomplished artist, historic preservationist and published author.

West Hartford immigrant teens and Hall High School students Ana Veriienko and Yimin Wu share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs as they navigate the journey from their homelands to a new life in the United States.

Andrew C. Petersen left his home in Denmark for better opportunities in America.  He began peddling milk on the streets of Hartford in 1913 and over the next 60 years built one of the most popular businesses in Greater Hartford.