My Czech grandparents owned property in the Rocky Hill Road/Lake Bashan area of Moodus from 1930s onward. A relative still owns the property. Sent there as a child from Michigan in the 1940s (w/o parents).
I remember Weinstein's drug store in Moodus Center (where fireworks were purchased) as well as the Grand Union store in the village, a local doctor (could his name have been Dr. Horsefeathers?) who came up one day to examine me thoroughly in what much have been a concern about polio.
Czech relatives owned a boardinghouse (possibly Julia Budka's from your photos) where my older cousin & friends went to help prepare meals, including plucking feathers from the place's freshly killed chickens. Also remember that the evening's activity frequently was a walk to Mr. Bailey's ice cream store at a reservoir. Day events including swimming & soapy baths in Lake Bashan as our farmhouse had an unreliable water supply.
--Rhona N.
From 1999 to 2012, present and past residents of East Haddam emailed their memories to this blog, which has now been incorporated into EastHaddamStories.org. Comments are open for the current posts. Please email your own memories of life in town, to admin@EastHaddamStories.org.
Search This Blog
Monday, July 15, 2002
Soapy baths in Bashan Lake
My Czech grandparents owned property in the Rocky Hill Road/Lake Bashan area of Moodus from 1930s onward. A relative still owns the property. Sent there as a child from Michigan in the 1940s (w/o parents).
I remember Weinstein's drug store in Moodus Center (where fireworks were purchased) as well as the Grand Union store in the village, a local doctor (could his name have been Dr. Horsefeathers?) who came up one day to examine me thoroughly in what much have been a concern about polio.
Czech relatives owned a boardinghouse (possibly Julia Budka's from your photos) where my older cousin & friends went to help prepare meals, including plucking feathers from the place's freshly killed chickens. Also remember that the evening's activity frequently was a walk to Mr. Bailey's ice cream store at a reservoir. Day events including swimming & soapy baths in Lake Bashan as our farmhouse had an unreliable water supply.
--Rhona Neuwirth
I remember Weinstein's drug store in Moodus Center (where fireworks were purchased) as well as the Grand Union store in the village, a local doctor (could his name have been Dr. Horsefeathers?) who came up one day to examine me thoroughly in what much have been a concern about polio.
Czech relatives owned a boardinghouse (possibly Julia Budka's from your photos) where my older cousin & friends went to help prepare meals, including plucking feathers from the place's freshly killed chickens. Also remember that the evening's activity frequently was a walk to Mr. Bailey's ice cream store at a reservoir. Day events including swimming & soapy baths in Lake Bashan as our farmhouse had an unreliable water supply.
--Rhona Neuwirth
Sunday, June 30, 2002
Honeymoon at Hilton's

My wife and I were married June 27, 1953 and spent our honeymoon at Ted Hilton's (which became Frank Davis Resorts, which is now Sunrise).
Truly a memorable occasion. One unforgettable happening: I developed a toothache, and Mr. Hilton personally took me into a dentist for relief. He said that no one should be uncomfortable on their honeymoon. What a man!
--Don
Tuesday, May 07, 2002
Riveredge echos of childhood
I was quite surprised to turn up your excellent web site! It brought back many memories of growing up there: buying eggs from your family's farm (I assume the coops/art center were located on the farm on the hilly road to Banner Lodge), the lazy summers at Riveredge (we had a reunion at Frank Davis - 200 people came), and the old downtown with the wooden sidewalks. My uncle Art still has old clippings of the great flood in the 20s which took out the power plant on the Salmon River and crested at a good 20' above normal.
Riveredge is now a private residence, after a brief attempt as a time-share, but I can still see ghostly echos of my childhood every time I drive by the place.
==Diana Donnellan in California (must be an affinity for earthquake country)
Riveredge is now a private residence, after a brief attempt as a time-share, but I can still see ghostly echos of my childhood every time I drive by the place.
==Diana Donnellan in California (must be an affinity for earthquake country)
Many Riveredge memories
I stumbled across your site while googling for 'moodus riveredge', and was quite surprised to turn up your excellent web site! It brought back many memories of growing up there: buying eggs from your family's farm (I assume the coops/art center were located on the farm on the hilly road to Banner Lodge), the lazy summers at Riveredge (we had a reunion at Frank Davis - 200 people came), and the old downtown with the wooden sidewalks. My uncle Art still has old clipping of the great flood in the 20s which took out the power plant on the Salmon River and crested at a good 20' above normal.
My family still remains on Clark Gates Road by the old apple orchards, but I left for better schools in the late 60s. Riveredge is now a private residence, after a brief attempt as a time-share, but I can still see ghostly echos of my childhood every time I drive by the place.
Thanks - Diana Donnellan in California (must be an affinity for earthquake country)
My family still remains on Clark Gates Road by the old apple orchards, but I left for better schools in the late 60s. Riveredge is now a private residence, after a brief attempt as a time-share, but I can still see ghostly echos of my childhood every time I drive by the place.
Thanks - Diana Donnellan in California (must be an affinity for earthquake country)
Thursday, November 29, 2001
Anton Wolf farm and boarding house
On your resorts page you refer to the Leiber resort as formerly Leiber's, now Frank Wolf's. My grandmother Frances Wolf, wife of Anton Wolf, sold the resort to Leiber sometime in the late 40's. Frank Wolf, her son, owned a gas station/liquor store just north of the Anton Wolf farm/boarding house. My father, who passed away in 1989, was second selectman in the Charles Wolf administration. My mother, who now lives in Florida, was the daughter of Anton and Frances Wolf. I hope this will add to the informal record of Moodus.--Bob Spiwak
Tuesday, October 23, 2001
Summers at Hilton's
Hello,
My name is Mary Ann (Golub) Ferguson. I grew up in Moodus...Born there in 1945 and resided there until 1965. My e-mail buddy, Irving Axelrod just told me about this site and it is WONDERFUL! I worked for 4 summers at Ted Hilton's for Ma Hilton and Frank Davis...How great it is to see what you have done on this site...
--Mary Ann
My name is Mary Ann (Golub) Ferguson. I grew up in Moodus...Born there in 1945 and resided there until 1965. My e-mail buddy, Irving Axelrod just told me about this site and it is WONDERFUL! I worked for 4 summers at Ted Hilton's for Ma Hilton and Frank Davis...How great it is to see what you have done on this site...
--Mary Ann
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
I am pleased to announce that the new East Haddam "Your History" blog is live at EastHaddamStories.org, a project of the East Ha...
-
For years Roy Duka was the all around entertainer for the Frank Davis Resort. From handing out instruments to the guests, with his "wak...
-
I stumbled across your site while googling for 'moodus riveredge', and was quite surprised to turn up your excellent web site! It br...
-
My name is Stan Feinstein and my family stayed at Breslow's each summer from the 40's to the 50's. In 1950, at age 15, I recei...