Riding through Moodus hills

As a post war baby boomer I enjoy fond memories of summers in Moodus, CT with our extended family. Grand Lake Lodge, Banner Lodge and Shadybrook will forever have a special place in my heart.

At 55 years old and my kids off to college, I enjoy riding my motorcycle through the scenic hills of Moodus and I find myself a little confused as to which present resorts sit now of the site of the ones I remember.

Alan P. Friedler, DMD

Fishcake leftovers

My college roommate from the 70's sent me the URL for your web site where I read about Orchard Mansion. It transported me back to the days when I was a busboy, waiter and eventually head waiter at the resort. I even started to write a book about my experiences there and hope someday to finish it.

I started working there when I had turned 14 and lied about my age. I told Herbie I had just turned 16, but I don't think he really believed me. Back then you didn't have to show proof of age or ID. I also worked in the soda shop which was run by Herb's sister the ever-nervous Lena. Max the baker made all of those great rolls and pastries that we all ate (or stole).

I also used to do an entertainment gig for a couple of years at night with another waiter and busboy. We were the Others Brothers and Mike.

Orchard Mansion and the people who stayed there were exactly as you describe it on your web site. Most of the guests were so nice and they took very good care of the dining room staff, by sneaking us extra food.

Herb and Rosie operated on a very low profit margin (which I didn't realize back then), and they didn't want any of the food wasted. That's an entirely different story, but I will say this: there was very little fish in the fishcakes served on Friday, but lots of other stuff, some of which were leftovers from earlier in the week.

I could go on and on, but hopefully I'll do that someday when I finish the book. Thanks for bringing a bit of my past back to me through your web site.

--Paul Shatsoff, Slingerlands, NY

Fresh cream and more in the country

When I was born, in 1921, Moodus was already operating as a sort of resort. I don't know how she ever made contact with them, but my grandmother was already 'vacationing' there, in what everybody called 'the country.' We have a few pictures of her and her daughters taken in Moodus about that time.

As I was growing up, not yet in my teens, I knew that Grandma 'went to the country' every spring, for the month of June. She always went to Harry Greenberg's place. When it became Grand View, I don't recall. I do recall that the 3-story hotel which you see in the brochures was built later, probably about 1930 to 1935. And the swimming pool was built about the same time.

The place was owned by Harry Greenberg, its phone number was "Moodus 1," and it was run by Harry and his wife and their numerous children. I knew them all -- Gertie and George and Maish, the oldest three, and then Rozzie, and Florrie, and the youngest, who was about 8 years younger than I was, "Ginnie." Harry's brother Aaron had a place in Moodus, also, but it was competitive, and I don't think they got along.

Grandma must have been one of their earliest guests, and they treated her like a member of the family, or even better, like a queen. All of our family were treated like family. I remember that every afternoon around 4, Mama Greenberg would "invite" me into the kitchen to sit at the table while she poured milk from a pitcher taken from the refrigerator, and gave me milk and a plate of cookies. Homemade, of course.

Grandma stayed the whole month of June, every year, and we would drive up from New York around July First to get her. She always left before the "tourists" arrived. We were never there 'in season.' Grandma wasn't that kind of a person. When the tourists arrived on July 3rd or 4th, she was gone.

Harry was basically a dairy farmer. All the milk, cream, butter, eggs, and vegetables came from right on the grounds. Out back, behind the 'big house' was a mighty large meadow, and a barn at one end.

The ritual was always the same. Every morning they (Harry and the kids) milked the cows, and then led them out to the field. Late in the day, they went out and brought in the cows, led them into the barn, and milked them again. The milk went into huge cans, I'd estimate maybe 15 gallons or so, and they went into the 'ice box' (a big room next to the kitchen).

Eventually, when it settled and cooled, I imagine that they must have skimmed off the cream, but the milk I got with the cookies was as thick as the 'half and half' that is now served (sometimes) with coffee in better restaurants. There certainly was no pasteurization, but I figure that there was some sort of inspection and certification.

The swimming pool in the brochures was interesting. I was there before it existed, and was a client-gathering addition, "Up the hill, near Banner Lodge," a more swinging and less "haimish" place.

They changed the water in the pool at regular intervals, but I don't know what intervals. I suppose that the water was filtered, but I can tell you that it was heated only by the Sun and the Earth's atmosphere. When they drained the pool and refilled it with fresh mountain spring water, you waited a few days before you dipped even your toe in it.

The 3-story hotel in the pictures had another innovation: indoor plumbing with bathrooms on every floor. I can't recall whether each room had running water at all.

Well, with that amount of recollections, I will close this rambling series of observations.

--William B. Lurie

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)

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

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

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