History remembered, history lost

I grew up in Moodus on Sillimanville Road.  I periodically visit your website and have been meaning to write to you to say thanks for writing the history of Moodus, the way it really was -- the good, the bad and the ugly. Upon reading all the stories and articles over the years I realize I truly grew up at the wrong time to be in Moodus.  I grew up at the end of the Summer Resort heyday, and watched it all slide downhill from there. 

I remember the Soda Shop, and I remember getting groceries from Uncle Albert (Pear) as I used to call him.  I went to Synagogue when it was on North Moodus road, my Bar Mitzvah was there.  I worked for a short time as Pistol Pete's sidekick up at Banner Lodge.  I remember the Weiner Resort, Banner Lodge, Grand View, Klar Crest, all of them.... and I saw each, one by one, close and wither away. 

I remember the old downtown, I was old enough to ride my bicycle there stopping for a soda at Weinstein's and then heading on down to Neptune Avenue to meet up with John Bielot.  I remember the town being leveled too.  Just one day it wasn't there anymore.  

I even remember getting fresh eggs from Simon's farm and being shown how to "candle" eggs. I remember Jack Banner getting so annoyed because Pistol Pete and I couldn't seem to catch who was putting the row boat into the pool at night.

Yes, memories of Moodus are mixed for me.  I had some fun, but even at a young age I could see and recognize the town being destroyed, the history being lost. I remember the arson fires at Wieners and also at the place next door to Debowsky's house.  My dad had his first heart attack while up on our roof with a hose putting out the embers from the two fires that were landing on our house. I think one of the Bungalows across the street also burned (forget the names of the family that owned them). 

I graduated High School in 1976, did some college in Hartford and joined the Navy leaving Moodus in 1977.  I never looked back. Well, I say never, but I visited once or twice and I came back to bury my parents in late 2000 and early 2001.  It's seems like only the cemeteries can be used as landmarks anymore as people don't tend to build or pave over them.... yet.

I do have hopes that the children of those who moved into the area in the 80's and later, to the new Moodus, create new memories -- ones of growth and building up, and maybe adding to the history of the area.  From what I saw in 2001, they pretty much have a clean slate to work with. 

Again, thanks for the website,

 --Miles-Kevin Baron

Bussing tables at Weiner's

You are the answer to my prayers!!

I spent probably 10 summer vacations at Weiner's in the mid 50's to maybe 1965. I recall Milton & Pearl (the owners) and their 4 children JoAnne, Frances (aka Cissy), Bobby and Mickey (he's in the ad!). Turned out my late mother and Pearl nee Samuels attended Thomas Jefferson HS in Brooklyn together. They lost touch after they graduated in 1940.

So I'm told, one spring day, while cruising around the Moodus area, my parents in their 1952 Buick, happened to stop at Weiner's, looking for a place to spend their upcoming summer vacation.

My mom looked at Pearl, she looked at my mom and there was a scream of recogition from the both of them.

I have such great memories I could talk/write for hours.

If I recall correctly, Milton passed away from a heart attack while doing some work on the grounds and Pearl died not soon afterward from heart disease too.

This was maybe 1965? I recall my last visit was more than likely the Jewish Holiday period in the fall of '65.

I had the job of walking the property sounding the "meal bell" for the guests. It had been ordained I would return the following season to begin my "summer career"
bussing the long tables in the "children's dining room," which would eventually lead to waiting tables in the "adult's dining room". Alas, that never came to pass.

I recall a boy named I think Miles Baron whose mother was an accountant, living adjacent to the hotel maybe.

I'm sure the property is long since developed into a bunch of private homes but I feel this need to drive up and look.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Ira H. Rubin, Jersey City, NJ

Positive Moodus memories

I was delighted to see your site. My late husband & I and our children spent many wonderful summers at Weiners in Moodus with our friends Dorothy and Norman Samuels. The Weiners were a fine family. Norman was the brother of Pearl Weiner.

We were so upset when we saw what happened to the town. My memories of Moodus are very positive. We had grand times there.

--Beverly Sacks

Weiner's Hotel: An American Dream

Great blurb on the "Moodus that Was." It's hard to capture the spirit and mood of the late 50's and early 60's in Moodus. I had worked at Weiner's for 5 years during summers in those times..A very good story of an American dream of hard work and sorry to say a sad end.

The hotel was a very vital part of the summer scene in the late 50's and early 60's. They fell off the map when tragically the owners, Milt and Pearl Weiner, died in their 40's a few years apart. The Weiners were longtime Moodus residents and had 4 children.

--Ron Lewis

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