Pave Paradise, Put Up a Parking Lot, or, You Don’t Know What You Got ‘Til It’s Gone

The top of the Hartford-Aetna Bank Building on the left. Richard Welling. 2012.284.86

Of the many buildings that Hartford has lost to development since the mid-twentieth century, the one that seems to sting a little bit more than most of the others is the Hartford-Aetna Bank Building. When it was built in 1912, the 11-story building was Hartford’s tallest. In 1990, the building was slated for demolition by the Society of Savings, with a 45-story office tower to go up in its wake.

Hartford-Aetna Bank Building, prepared for implosion. Demolition work visible on the base and middle seven stories. Richard Welling. 2012.284.3532.

The building was imploded in April 1990. Richard Welling captured the event from start to finish.

Hartford-Aetna Bank Building being imploded. The roof is caving in and there are clouds of smoke and dust coming from inside the building. Richard Welling. 2012.284.3544.

That 45-story tower? It never even got off the ground (pun definitely intended)—the bank went under after the Hartford-Aetna building was demolished. In its place is a parking lot, one of Hartford’s many (many, many).

The rubble after the implosion. Richard Welling. 2012.284.3536

Tasha Caswell is a Project Cataloger/Researcher at the Connecticut Historical Society