Thursday, September 02, 1999

A sentimental journey


I was just in Moodus today after close to 40 years away! It was a sentimental journey that proved you couldn’t go home again. I used to go to the Weiner's Hotel when I was in elementary school. I was trying to locate it. Judy, your village librarian told me that it had burned up and was now subdivided for private homes. I couldn't find anything there that even suggested that Weiner's was ever there.

Is there anything you can tell me about Weiner's from the early 1960s to its end? All I can remember was that it was owned by Milton and Pearl Weiner. They died within a year of each other, in the 1960s, and the kids tried to make a go of the place. That's pretty much when I aged out of it (it was a hotel and day camp.) And I remember we were always in color wars with Orchard Mansion or Banner Lodge.

The librarian gave me a brief rendition of the razing of Moodus story. Your article sure had the details. You know, the only thing I remember about Moodus itself was a post office and a Soda Shop. Judy said it must have been Weinstein's. I can't say that I remember the name, but it jogged something in my deep subconscious. Hey, I'm 40+ now, and the memory is fading.

--Steven Leifer, Albany, NY

  I am pleased to announce that the new local history website EastHaddamStories.org is now live. It is a project of the East Haddam Historic...