Residents are invited to take a stroll back in time to get a glimpse of life in Unionville and Farmington as they were fifty years ago, in the days before the internet, ipods, push button phones, microwave ovens and remote controls.
The exhibit features the photographic work of Dick Mathews, a resident of Unionville since 1956. The photos provide a unique glimpse in time of people and places in Unionville and Farmington from the late 1950's into the 1960's. Featuring a panoply of images, his subjects include views of everyday life, town leaders, businesses and industry, parades and other events.
Dick's initial dreams of being an artist were thwarted by color-blindness. However, his artists' sense of space and composition shows through in his images of everyday life in the community. Common events, such as putting up a sign for the library, a school award, or an image of a town meeting, take on a sort of Norman Rockwellesque-like charm.
Mathews commenced his career in the newsroom of the Hartford Times in late 1955, and he subsequently moved to Farmington/Unionville as a reporter-photographer in 1956.
After ten years with The Times, Dick accepted the position of Assistant Director of the Farmington Redevelopment Agency where he worked in acquisition. He also became involved in community organizations including the Farmington Community Chest, Connecticut yankee Council of Girl Scouts, and the Farmington Exchange Club, Farmington Recreation Association. He is a former president of the Farmington Historical Society and was Chairman of the board of directors for the Farmington Valley/West Hartford Visitor's Bureau from 1984-86. He is currently the president of the Tunxis Senior Citizens Association. He is often seen driving around town with Misty, his loveable 8-yr old Golden Retriever - a rescue dog - who has placed in the top ten, three times in the Town Clerk's annual best dog contest.
