Share Your Memories
Beatrice Fox Auerbach with her daughters, Georgette and Dorothy.
Unknown photographer, ca. 1925.
CHS 2007.24.562.
Do you have memories of G. Fox & Co. or perhaps Beatrice Fox Auerbach or her daughters, Georgette Koopman and Dorothy Schiro? As G. Fox & Co. was an important part of Hartford for such a long time, many people do have memories of the store and the Fox and Auerbach families. Every memory that is shared provides a new perspective and adds to our understanding of the store and its role in the community.
Contribute Your Memories of G. Fox & Co.
Recollections of G. Fox & Co.
by on December 30, 2012
When I was growing up in Manchester, my mother would take me into Hartford on the bus to shop at G. Fox. I thought it was the most wonderful store in the world. I especially loved the book department on the mezzanine. We would go there last, after we finished buying clothes and shoes, and I would get a special book to take home. Then we'd take the bus back to Manchester, loaded down with packages.
-Nancy from Unionville, CT
by on January 06, 2009
Growing up in West Hartford in the ‘50s and ‘60s, taking the bus “downtown” was always a treat. The first floor of G. Fox always glistened, the snap of the elevator captain rang out and I was in enthralled! Seeing Mrs. Auerbach in her sensible black shoes and white gloves was as close to royalty as I could imagine.
Mother and I didn’t go for one particular errand, but coursed through the entire store from the basement notions, to clothes and shoes for school and, of course, the luncheonette (sandwiches on date nut bread!). G. Fox is where I learned about fashion (black watch plaid shirtwaist dresses with peter pan collars), about makeup (less is more) and where I registered for wedding gifts (Royal Doulton china and Lunt Sterling). It also where I learned to knit in a class held on the 4th floor when I was a pre-teen!
G. Fox was an important part of my growing up years. When my children and I went to the Hartford store for the very last time, buying some “marked down” dishes and cookware, I saved the shopping bag, wrote the date on it and packed it away as a tangible memory of what Hartford used to be.
by on January 10, 2009
When my mother said "We are going to G. Fox today" it had a number meanings. That is where she would be, and that was good news. It meant Mom was having a good time, and there was enough money for her to buy clothes for herself. It meant the children were not going, and we had to find something to do all day by ourselves. It meant the house would be quiet and somewhat cold until she got back. It mean that this was a long shopping trip, not just a visit to the grocery. Darkness would begin to fall before she returned. It meant when she finally returned, the door would open, a light would go on, and she could be heard all over the house shouting "Hi! I'm home!" followed by the rustling of bags much fancier than grocery bags. Then after a pause less than a minute, "I told you three times to turn the oven on at 3 o'clock. Now we won't have anything for dinner. Daddy will be furious. What can't you do one thing I ask you to do?" Then after a furious rattling, "that will have to do" Then "Come see what I bought..."followed by a blow by blow description of everything they did all day.
Sarah H. Gordon
Hamden, CT 06517
Sarah H. Gordon, Hamden CT 06517
by shgordon127 on January 15, 2009
I was born in Hartford in 1959. My grandmother worked at G Fox and I remember going to see Sants Clause at the store with my moyher. We would go to the store, see my grandmother, visit santa, and then go to the cafaterria for pie! I always remember this fondly. Just decided to look up G Fox because of this memory.
by on June 11, 2009


A Note about Submissions: Please include your city/state or country in your submission.
Thank you for adding your memory!