Hiking and romance at Hilton's

I think 1958 and 1960 were the summers I spent at Ted Hiltons with my family.  It was such a beautiful place -- the gorgeous Salmon river, the grounds, the pool, all the activities, the wonderful food and the dining room.  There was music at night, outside, and inside was square dancing.

We would have a guided hike through the woods, be hot and exhausted at the end,  to find a long table laden with cool drinks and food. All the employees were friendly and enthusiastic.  They loved being there as much as the guests.  And there was Roy with a cowboy hat, always on horseback, announcing all the activities we should join in, when and where.

I even had a romance with a very special young man who worked there.  I think he stayed for many years and if he is still there I want him to know Hiltons and our friendship are very special memories. for me.

--Joan Daly

Those summers were the best!

I stumbled across this web site and it certainly brought back wonderful memories.

I worked as a camp counselor at Orchard Mansion starting in the mid 60's. I grew up in Middletown, CT and my Mom thought it would be a great experience.  She was so right. In 1969, I moved up the street, to join my sister, to work at Banner Lodge as a waitress.  I worked there through college.

These summers were the best!  Working hard, making money and having a great social life.

--Maureen Charatan Bernstein

Bury Brothers part of town history

When Bill and I were first married and lived by the Moodus Green in the old Advertiser building, I had painted a painting for the Bury Brothers to hang in the meat market to pay off a debt we had rung in meat products in the early 70's as payment. They took it gracefully and extinguished our monthly bill. It was of hereford cows. I'm hoping one of the family members still has possession of it. They were great people and "down to earth folk, always helping their neighbors and fellow man. They are truly part of Moodus history and I will always keep them in my heart.

Sincerely,

--Margaret Delehanty alias "Muggs"

Bonita Springs, FL

Moodus connections run deep

I so enjoy this site. I lived on Plains Road, 1951, across from the then Moodus Savings Bank by Dr Berwick. Julian Bury was my Godfather and I was a freshman when Bud was a Jr or Sr. Uncle Julian and Uncle Joe where wonderful-wonderful people and I loved them dearly!! My dad Frank Larsek was born in Moodus in 1925, married my Mom who is still living and my cousins still live there. The Sidell family across from Hale Ray. 

I moved from Moodus in 1986 and now live in South Carolina. My mom is now 84 and Daddy passed at 61. He was best friends with Danny Maus. My name is Christine Larsek Rowland Fusco and thank you for these wonderful memories. My Dad worked at Russell Jennings in Chester, it then went to be known as Stanley Works. Go figure. Then he spent the rest of his work time at Sibleys in Haddam and my Mom worked at the café  at Hale Ray. MY mom is still best friends with Alice Tesar and Genny Bielot. 

Thanks for the memories.

--Chris Fusco

Magic in the air

The yurt at the Sanctuary at Shepardfields in East Haddam hosts many magical, spiritual and fun events. Here is a glimpse of one, featuring mesmerizing call-and-response Kirtan chanting with Dave Russell and Friends.

Fresh food, country air

Back in the day, Moodus was the resort capital of Connecticut, with more than 50 resorts serving tens of thousands of vacationers during the season. People came for the clean country air and food fresh from the farm next door. In fact, many of the resorts started out as farms whose families welcomed first family and then other visitors to enjoy the Moodus summer.

Playing with frogs, messing with the chef

I think I am "the baby" mentioned in the post about Breslows, but a couple things are slightly off. My birth dad was Ed Cohen, (called Richard in Allen's post). One of the brothers running the resort; his brother was indeed Frank. Ed has passed away, about 7 years ago. My mom is Marcia (Cohen) Goshen, mentioned in the post. She and Ed divorced when I was 4, and she remarried Bill Goshen, (I think they met in Moodus or East Haddam) they still are together and live in South Florida. My initials and nickname were indeed ABC, but my name was Andrew Bennett Cohen (not Amy Beth) but that's understandable, it's been 50 years since I left Moodus at age 4!

Surprisingly, I actually do remember a few things, but also when my brother Mat and I went back one time a few years later and visited Ed at Breslows. He was still running it with his new wife Pat. Pat had a cool blonde kid (Michael?) who took me around that week.

We played with impossibly giant bright green and gold bullfrogs in the pond, explored everywhere, stayed in the cabins, listened to Beatles songs on transistor radios and got in the way of the always gruff (and possibly intoxicated) cook, Sterling. He seemed to like us kids, but yelled at us a lot. We shared cool secret spy things, like "the rock trick" , where you hid in the woods and threw a rock somewhere away from you to make someone think you were somewhere else.

From age 4 or so, I actually remember tagging along at get-togethers (were there bleachers?) with the older campers and singing John Jacob Jinglehammer, 100 bottles of beer, the hole in the nickel song and other camp staples. I also remember doing the bunny hop off to bed and being shooed out of the kitchen by the sweaty Sterling, dusty with flour and brandishing a rolling pin yelling ... "Out, out, out of my Kitchen!"

--Andrew Bennett (Cohen) Goshen