Sad City Tribute: The Candyman

Ed. Note: Sad City is a little busy this week so after 13 months of almost five times a week new material we might have a couple reposts this week. They will be older so only our long time readers would remember them, and if they are still reading after all this time, they must like it. For new material go behind our new pay wall. (Just kidding). 


This post remembers the Candyman. Growing up in the rural suburbs, coming into Hartford for Whalers games were frequent, yet exciting occurrences in which we got to see things we never saw in our hometown. A gold building that acted like a mirror. A boat shaped building. Non-white people. The tobacco store in the Civic Center. Perhaps most memorably, The Candyman. Like so many things in Hartford after the Whalers left and gangs took over the city, the late 90's were rough for the Candyman. This post first appeared on Sad City on August 17, 2010.



The last couple weeks have been full of memories of the Hartford Whalers. With the Whaler Fan Fest on Saturday and the Hartford Courant's Whaler Memories page, Whaler mania seems to be at it's highest since the team left town in 1997. We at Sad City have noticed an omission amongst the Whaler legends of yesteryear: The Candyman.

Newer Hartford residents wouldn't know the Candyman but he was a Hartford institution. Peter Stone sold candy in the Hartford Civic Center from a red wagon and could always be seen before games. Born with cerebral palsy, The Candyman died May 17, 1999 at the age of 55. In February of 1998, the Candyman was hospitalized after being struck by a car on Farmington Ave. In December of 1998 his candy cart was stolen and destroyed. (whoever did deserves a lengthy prison stay) The Candyman certainly didn't get the best cards in life, but he still earned his place amongst memorable Hartford residents. Read more about him here. A Sad City salute! More Whaler stuff later.