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First Post Missing
Re: Famous visitors to Willimantic and vicinity
Posted By: amc
Date: Tuesday, 13 August 2002, at 8:28 a.m.
In Response To: Famous visitors to Willimantic and vicinity (William Brainard)
Are there pics of President Cleveland at Town Hall
Posts Missing
Posted By: rd <lancva@crosslink.net>
Date: Tuesday, 13 August 2002, at 10:28 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Famous visitors to Willimantic and vicinity (Ada Kerachsky Albright)
Ed Lopat, AL pitcher visited Hurleys Boys store; Teddy Rooselvelt visited Willi in early 1900s; Lou Costello visited and ate at the Hooker House before his movie career; also a Hollywood movie star-male but can't think of name right now--it was back in late 40's early 50s.
Posted By: Mel B. <dkielbas@aol.com>
Date: Tuesday, 13 August 2002, at 4:02 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Famous visitors to Willimantic and vicinity (Shemp)
Paul Newman shot pool in the SHELL CHATEAU bar,with Claire Avery and wanted Miller beer in a can,but all they had were bottles,so he settled for that.A picture of him shooting pool was in the chronicle.
Posted By: Virginia Darrow <vadaro@cs.com>
Date: Thursday, 15 August 2002, at 10:47 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Famous visitors to Willimantic and vicinity (Virginia Darrow)
When my family moved to Willimantic in 1943 we lived on Turner Street across from a lady named Molly Hempstead. She was a unique person - took in roomers. She had been in the theatre in her youth and had been a hostess or manager at the Hotel Hooker during the latter part of the 1800s. I remember her telling us of the presidential visits as well opera stars of the time staying at the Hotel while performing at the Loomis Opera House. She also mentioned that the Rockefellers stayed there on their way to and from Newport, RI. She also talked of Col. Hooker. Unfortunately, I don't recall the stories. I was too busy being a teenager and being concerned about WWII. I do remember that her house was filled with glorious Victorian antiques. We moved out of the neighborhood before she died.