Archived Topics

LEONARDS/LENNY'S

Posted By: Brenda Marvelle <Brenda_Holland@hotmail.com>
Date: Monday, 21 January 2002, at 9:37 p.m.

WANTED INFO ON THIS PUB. MEMBER OF HUSBAND'S FAMILY OWNED IT IN THE 70'S..PICS? ANY INFORMATION HISTORY ON THIS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. ANY RELATIVES OF ERNEST ALBERT HOLLAND/LORRAINE WHITEHOUSE OUT THERE IN WILLI LAND? DOING A FAMILY HISTORY SO ANYTHING WOULD BE INTERESTING TO Me! PLEASE EMAIL IF YOU HAVE PICS OF THE SCHOOLS..MY HUSBAND WAS BORN IN '52... THE TOWN, ETC. THANKS SO MUCH! 

In Response To: Re: LEONARDS/LENNY'S 

I knew Rodney Whitehouse wren he owned Leonard's. It was located on lower Main St. near Cardinal Square. It's still there today under different ownership. U believe that Rod moved to Hollywood Fla. Hope that helps. 

Posted By: Wendi Clark <thequeenbea2001@hotmail.com>
Date: Sunday, 27 January 2002, at 12:35 p.m.

In Response To: Re: LEONARDS/LENNY'S (dick)

Yes Leonards is still on lower Main Street ~ I was in Willi last Sunday and drove by it. Unfortunately the last time I was in there almost 3 years ago it was a 'dive'. Sorry if that offends anyone, but if you've read any of my other contributions on this site you will know who I am and what I did when I resided in Willi. I used to frequent that establishment many times in any given day... and I remember it getting raided by Willi's FINEST on many occasions! ( the mens room was often more busy than the bar ) Oh well, some things never change........ LOL ~ Wendi ~ 

Posted By: Lenny <harvey2000@cfl.rr.com>
Date: Monday, 28 January 2002, at 5:56 p.m.

In Response To: Re: LEONARDS/LENNY'S (Wendi Clark)

A dive???? LOL well, I am 46 years old, and for as long as I can remember Leonards Pub (No Relation to me) would probably be classified by most as a dive. However, that being said, I spent a lot of time in that bar in my earlier years. beer was dirt cheap (draft) Not much of a bar though, simply a small half moon bar with a "brass" rail to put your feet on. I also know that woman for the longest time did not stand at the bar area, in fact it may have not been allowed, but they sure did spend time at the tables.

Lenny 

Posted By: LtCol. Dick Phaneuf, USMC(Ret.) <Chukup@earthlink.net>
Date: Wednesday, 13 February 2002, at 8:16 p.m.

In Response To: Re: LEONARDS/LENNY'S (Lenny)

I found the discussions of Leonard's Restaurant very interesting but shamefully current since my Father, Wilfred Phaneuf owned the place way back in the late 40's and early 50's before he died in August 1952. I, and my brother Bob (who still lives in Willimantic) spent many hours back then on Thursday afternoons after school, peeling the mountains of potatoes which were needed for the Fish and Chips, Clam Chowder and French Fry orders that were a Friday specialty. My sister Evelyn (Chalifoux), my mother (Margarite) and I ran the kitchen while Dad and a couple of hired bartenders ran the bar. Sister Evelyn still lives in Willimantic also.

I can remember the place way back when it was named Mahoney's owned by a man by the same name who, as the story goes, hit his head on the large vertical pipe near the right end of the bar when he dropped dead one day. It was later owned by a man who owned a large chicken farm out in the county named Bill Mongeau from whom my father bought the place. Exactly when the name changed from Mahoney's to Leonard's and why, I do not know.

I remember many good and bad times during those days working in the restaurant. Late night visits from the police officer who walked the east Main Street beat back in those days for a cup of hot coffee which I would add to a strange brown liquid my dad would add to the cup. Being sent up to the Police Station on a Friday morning with two or three orders of Clam Fritters in a plain, brown bag into which, for some reason, my dad had placed a recently acquired parking ticket. Some very colorful bartenders like a fellow named "Frenchy," another colorful character named "Squat" Tenant who was always around, and the Ouellette brothers playing pitch in the corner booth. I'm sure sister Evelyn can think of many more stories and the names of those who frequented the place while we owned it.

For any specific questions concerning that period, feel free to contact me. I left Willimantic in 1955 to join the Marines and enjoyed an exciting and successful 27 year military career with the Corps. I now live a happy retired life in Port Hueneme, CA.