Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Donnellan's Riveredge like home


Hi!
My mother and I were going through some old pictures and we came across some of them from our family vacations at Donnellan's of Riveredge.  We started going there in 1981 which put me at 6 years old. I'm now 30 and have very fond memories of the place.  We stopped going there after my father passed away in December of 1983.

The last I heard of the resort it was sold and made into a health spa resort.  Would you happen to know if this is true or has it been sold since and made into something else?  My mom, brother and I have gone to Cave Hill up the road but it was never the same as Donnellan's.  Donnellan's had that feeling of home.  I'd really appreciate a response to this whether or not you know the answer.  I thank you.

Sincerely,
--Carolyn Sweeney (Married with a 2 year old looking to make new family memories)

Saturday, July 30, 2005

Fantastic

I have enjoyed reading all of the excellent information on your website. The photos and book selections are absolutely fantastic. I especially love the old resort information. My father worked at Frank Davis and I at Sunrise through high school. It is amazing to see how much has changed at that resort, yet stayed the same.

--Tinamarie Berger

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Flying Jack to the track


Your site was sent to me by my nephew Evan Bernstein. You and I spent some enjoyable time life guarding (when I wasn't flying Jack to the race track) at the Banner pool from 68-72 (my Banner years). My wife Karen (Green) and I met @ Banner Lodge the summer of 69 and now have a great family (and grand child) residing in Plymouth, MA. 

Believe it or not I think I still have one of the coveted "Banner Staff " shirts at the bottom of some drawer. I visit my brother Bob in Scottsdale, AZ often where he now resides with his wife Rozeanne. I will be sure to mention your web site to Bob.

Great work, look forward to hearing from other Banner Alumni! Thanks for your efforts!
--Stan Bernstein

Monday, May 09, 2005

A way of life destroyed

The article in today's Hartford Courant (May 9, 2005) was read with a great deal of interest and it got me to my computer to Google Cave Hill Camp, which lead me to your website. Instead of working in the garden, I spent about 2 hours browsing your articles about the old summer resorts, looking at the old postcard pictures of Moodus as it once was and reading the history of what happened to "downtown."

I grew up in the village of East Haddam - but remember Moodus with much fondness - and every time I pass through that area now on my way to visit my parents' graves at St. Bridget's Cemetery, I have a pang of regret for what once was.

I no longer live in East Haddam - but remember well what used to be downtown Moodus. My uncle, Tommy Sipples, was the owner of Tommy's Barber Shop. I remember how every teenager wanted to have a job as a soda jerk at Bill's. Everyone knew Sam Pear and exchanged local news at Ray McMullen's Drug Store or just on the "street." It is so sad that all of that is gone and all that Moodus has is that horrible strip mall. More than buildings were lost -- the sense of community and a way of life in a small town was also destroyed

Yes, there were problems in the center that needed to be addressed but what happened to Moodus is so sad, especially when you see what has happened in Chester, which was even more run down.

I plan to download your articles so that I can save them for my children to read and just to reread and remember what once was. I especially love the pictures from the old post cards -- it is a walk down memory lane for me.

The article in today's Courant just barely touched on what was a major industry in town. It never mentioned Banner Lodge - where oddly enough, my son as a teenager worked in the kitchen for two summers. I remember Ceil Banner from when she was my fifth grade teacher at Nathan Hale.

We locals would complain every summer about the influx of cars as the New Yorkers invaded our town. But I think those that still live in East Haddam/Moodus have lost something that can never be regained. I only hope the people that still live in town think of this when they complain about the Goodspeed Opera House. It is the one link to the past that the town has that is also providing it with a place in the present -- and hopefully the future. To quote: "Don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg." While Essex and Chester grow and prosper, East Haddam is trying to kill its one chance. We are supposed to learn from history. Unfortunately, that is not always true.

--Dorothy DeGiorgi

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Frank Davis Resort a wonderful place

My memories of family vacations are always in vivid color when thinking of Frank Davis Resort. Each Christmas I'm reminded of it's magical touch on my childhood by a Christmas ornament I had made at one of the arts & crafts workshops. It has a tiny figurine inside a clear plastic ball with worn writing that reads, "To Coo Coo-with love"

From the car that traveled into the water to the children's parades, it was a wonderful place that I can keep coming back to each year. Thank you!

--Lauren Field

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Great times at Banner Lodge

I just wanted to thank you for maintaining this website and adding to it as time allows. It's the only website I can find that brings back all the great memories I have vacationing at Banner Lodge.


Even though the pictures & brochure are from the 40's & 50's it still looked pretty much that way when we started going there in the early 70's. Our last vacation there was August 1979. I really miss that place and have nothing but great memories there and wish it was still up & running so I could stay there again. In the last 15 years or so I've visited the place 3 or 4 times and just can't believe what I see.

One of our first vacations there, my parents thought it would be fun for me & my sister to attend the Banner day camp. I wasn't too happy since all I wanted to do was spend my day in the pool or rowing around the lake and making laps around the island. I was really good at the race car arcade game they had there & one day during some rain the camp counselors had a little contest that I won. For winning I was given a green Banner Lodge t-shirt that I still have to this day. I will not part with it, even though it's not even close to fitting me.

I hope others have appreciated your work and have as good a memories as I have. During a couple of vacations I became friends with Jack Mather's son and we hung around some. We exchanged addresses but never wrote each other. When I think back I wonder what some of the people are up to now, like Jack's son. I'm sure besides having lost Jack Banner, that dancing Harry & probably Jack Mathers are gone also.. Jack had some wardrobe for his evening gigs in the very low ceilinged night club that my parents would occasionally allow us to go to with them.

The food was great and every time I smell an onion bagel or onion roll I remember those fresh rolls at every meal.

Well, I'm sorry for going on and on like this but I just have such wonderful memories and miss the place so much I wanted to share it with you. I hope you continue to add more and more stuff to the website and hopefully pictures from the 60's & 70's. If I had some I'd gladly share them but whatever photos my father took during our trips there are more than likely long gone by now. Thanks again.

--Joe

  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...