A good job at Orchard Mansion

I came upon this site for Orchard Mansion and it did bring back memories. My parents went there a few years. Then I started working there in the large dining hall. For a teen at that time I made some very good money. Herb and Rose, well if anyone knew what went on behind the scenes they could fill a book about that family.

--Rick Millman

Fond memories of 1950s Moodus

I came across your site and saw a picture I recognized. On the Moodus-center-pix page, there is a picture labeled ‘First National, Bill's Soda Shop, Weinstein's and Lou's Package’, which also seems to have been used for the ‘Greetings from Moodus’ card. I’d love to get a good copy of it.

My grandmother, Evelyn Levine, lived in the house whose porch partially appears on the left of the picture. There she raised her sons (Nathan, George, Bill, Barney, Saul, Jack, and Dave). The picture was taken in 1960, I think, despite the heading and the name ‘moodus_center_east_1940s.’ In any case, I think the car parked in the 2-car lot to the side of the house is a 1959 Rambler that belonged to my uncle Nathan (whom we called ‘Manny’), and it looks like there is a 1956 Chevy parked in front.

I have fond memories of exploring that house, and I still remember the floor-plan, my dad’s childhood room up-stairs, and the incredible antiques (treadle sewing machines, hand-carved sandstone pottery, my grandfather’s old butchering tools) I found exploring in the attic and basement.

One of my early memories (I was all of 4 years old) is from Memorial Day, 1959. My family drove down to Moodus from Massachusetts for the Memorial Day Parade, which became an annual event for us in the early 1960’s. We saw the parade (replete with Fife and Crum Corps) and then went to Billy’s store where my dad let us buy penny candy. We usually stayed in one of the cabins at Banner Lodge (Pop Banner was my godfather) over the weekend. None of the pictures I saw show it, but there was a covered and raised outdoor stage at the end of the lodge pool on which instructors would lead dance and exercise classes. The memory is that my dad (George) would take me to that stage in the evening, and we would sit, the two of us, while he told me about being a kid growing up in Moodus, working for Banner Lodge during his teen summers, and other recollections.

By the mid 1960’s, the ravine (Moodus River) behind my grandmother’s house was so polluted that the house began to smell horrible. She moved to a house in Middletown, and we ceased to spend Memorial Days in Moodus. Toward the end of the 1960’s, the family would still get together in the area with the brothers and my many cousins, either visiting Bashun Lake, Gillette Castle, or the Goodspeed, but by the early 1970’s, Moodus was essentially gone.

--Hal Franklin

Eels in the river at Hilton's

My family visited Ted Hilton's in the summer of 1952.  The week as I remember was wonderful.  The horses were tied up and waiting on the far side of the river so one had to row across.  I had a crush on the top wrangler. We went riding at least three times, once for an early morning breakfast ride.  We stayed in the new lodgings at the top of the hill -- overlooking the swimming pool, where I also spent a lot of time.  The river was lovely with its little sandy beach -- but it was the first time I ever saw an eel -- and didn't appreciate the experience as that long, black shiny, slimy thing coiled about my ankle!  The food was great and I remember one morning particularly.  I always got up very early and there I could walk down to the lodge by myself and eat with other guests, likewise early risers.  I was 10. 

--Jeanne Melis Mills

I loved old Moodus

About once a year, I visit the Moodus Web pages and remember those days in the early 1930's when we drove to Gramma's house in Moodus for Sunday dinner. They lived at the top of the hill, across from the cemetery on the road to Banner Lodge. The driveway to their house was between St. Bridgets and the Synagogue. It's still there.

Now, at 84, I remember all the stores and the tavern where Grampa wet his whistle. He died in 1941 while walking home from the tavern. I also remember the visitors to the camps (Banner Lodge, etc) walking up and down the hill in droves. I fished with Barney Smith and his brothers in the pond behind their house and popped corn over a campfire with them. I loved the "Old" Moodus. What remains today is awful.

Urban Renewal was also a disaster in my home town of New Britain. I was on their Common Council when it was decided to tear down millions of square feet of manufacturing space, thinking that the owners would rush back in and rebuild with cheap Government money. Not one of them rebuilt, but chose to leave town and go to the surrounding suburbs. The only buildings there are government-owned. Not one pays taxes.

Your web page is outstanding. Please keep it up.

--Richard Harris
Avon, CT

Lousy accomodations, great food and fun

I am so excited to read this. We went every year to Orchard Mansion and still have friends that we met there.

Who is still alive from the Kabatznick family?  They came to one of my sons' bar mitzvahs.

You hit the nail right on the head. The accommodations were lousy, but who cared. The food and fun was worth it.

We even took our dog with us.

--Joan Kniager

Fun childhood memories

I have fun images in my head from Moodus and Orchard Mansion… first drink from a natural spring, first hack at a golf ball, a scary walk through the cemetery, the frog pool/pond with giant frog’s legs, shuffle board, watching the MLB All-Star game on a color TV, first female breast sighting, first kiss, (sour) milk and cookies, the Boston/New York rivalry, watching the old men (my dad was probably in his 30’s back then) playing cards by the pool all day, the talent shows in the barn, learning to dive off a diving board, on and on!

Great website.  My family will be thrilled to visit and take a stroll down memory lane.

--Eric Kniager

Growing up on Banner Rd.

I don't know where to start. You have brought back so many wonderful childhood memories for me.

Starting with Maxi and his chicken coops to Pistol Pete! I adored them all. As a child growing up on Banner Road, everything was an adventure.

Jack employed my siblings and I either babysitting, camp counselor or whatever he needed us for. Pistol Pete used to bring us home, if it was "very late," refusing to let us walk home in the dark. He used to tell us Jack told him to!

Jack and Mrs. Banner would allow us children to use the pool, gameroom and paddle in the pond. One of the things we did not have permission to do was play on the golf course, so when we were caught Jack gave us a "stern" talking to.

Maxi employed my brother for several summers growing up and I have never tasted a better egg since. He always had his Irish Setters that were so beautiful. I was a senior at Nathan Hale, when Mrs. Simon opened Down on the Farm. I was always fascinated by the workshops. Once again she employed a child that really didn't know what she would do after school. She taught me things that summer that I still carry with me today.

I guess the thing that means so much to me today is that all the people I have mentioned treated us like their own family. Not only did they employee us, but they cared deeply for us and I will always owe them a debt of gratitude.

I remember Pistol Pete and his car down at the old Moodus Center during the parades. We always had to run over and say a big hello! He was bigger than life to me.

Thank you so much for bringing back wonderful childhood memories for me.

--Judy Ryder McCarthy