Archived Topics
Re: Get rid of Hooker
Posted By: Another Concerned Resident In Response To: Get
rid of Hooker (Concerned Resident) I too am a concerned resident. I'm also concerned about how freely you use
the term "socialist." Believe me, the Windham town fathers are not
socialists. If they were, everyone in Windham, including the long-suffering
middle classes, would suffer the deprivations caused by free healthcare and free
education.
The unfortunate people of the Hooker could be decribed as victims of the
system that socialists tried to replace. I see you call Hooker residents
"lowlifes." Check Presidential candidate George Bush's (Shrub's)
record as a Governor. Now you could describe him as a "lowlife" on
that record.
Indeed, I would agree that the Hooker is a blot on the landscape. But closing
it down only sweeps the problem under the carpet. What should we do with that
grand building -- demolish it? You probably agree with those of our town fathers
who recently tried to demolish the Tsin tsin block and the Mazzola Block for
parking lots. Yeah, that'll really bring people back downtown!
It looks as if Willimantic is turning around and soon Main street will spring
back to life. People will come back downtown. They already are to the brewpub,
and soon to the Thread City cafe and bookstore, and to the Capitol Cinema
theater. Houses are also being sold -- near to the "lowlifes." We need
to be inclusive, not exclusive. Walk around NYC. You see all kinds of
"lowlifes" there mixing with decent, hardworking people like yourself,
but it doesn't affect visitation or tourism to the Big Apple. At last the people
of surrounding areas are getting something to come back downtown for. Check the
Victorian House weekend, the balloonfest and the boombox parade. Also you can
come downtown on Founders Day, May 12, and celebrate our 308th anniversary.
The closure of the thread mills 15 years ago really hit Willimantic, and at
last a recovery is at hand. Also you know, there are many prosperous communities
in eastern CT -- but they have massive amounts of "hidden poverty"
Towns like Eastford, Pomfret and Ashford don't have Main Streets for their
"riff raff" to hang around on. You have to go up back roads to see
their poverty. But it's there. Now what connection can YOU make from all this?
Please look through your intolerance and see what's happening in Willimantic.
Date: Thursday, 11 May 2000, at 10:29 p.m.
Posted By: diane
Date: Saturday, 13 May 2000, at 3:16 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Get rid of Hooker (Another Concerned Resident)
While I understand addicts need a place to recover, I don't quite understand why you call them victims. People do make a decision on their own to use and abuse drugs. They also make a decision to get help and cleaned up and part of functioning society again. While I agree with you on the fact that towns such as Canterbury,Pomfret, and Ashford DO have their share of people down on their luck, I also question someone calling this economy "booming".It is far from booming.
Posted By: nutmegger <nutmegger@my-deja.com>
Date: Thursday, 8 June 2000, at 11:07 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Get rid of Hooker (Bill PHD Meehan)
What dumps on main street? If you ask me it is looking much better. The prostitues and drugs are the problem.
Posted By: A guy from the hooker <harvey2000@cfl.rr.com>
Date: Tuesday, 5 June 2001, at 5:42 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Get rid of Hooker (nutmegger)
I have read with great interest over the last year all the posts regarding the hotel hooker. I have found the references to the people, and they are people, to be of particular interest. Twenty years ago or so I was one of the ones that spent time at the hooker, Although I never actually lived there. I was an addict and I was a drunk. While I was a very smart person with a high IQ. I never seemed to fit in. Right around 1983 I got very sick, I ended up (at tax payer expense) in Natchaug Hospital. I spent many months there. Turns out that I was told I had Non A Non B Hepatitis, today I know it as Hepatitis C. Anyway, I got clean, well sort of. After My release from the hospital I still used from time to time. In 1984 I took the cloths on back and 50 dollars and went to florida. Today I am happily married with a wonderful 9 year old son. I have been married 16 years now. I have a college education, a really nice house that I own. My wife and I have new cars that we trade in every couple of years and all the other toys of the middle class. Hell we have great retirement plans and even own stock. Oh I am also clean and sober since 1984. The next time you look at the folks outside the hooker, remember they are human beings. As for the hooker, it has a grand History and instead of complaining, BUY it and do something with it. Maybe I am exception, I really don't know. What I do know is that if the people of willimantic had not extended a hand to me and offered me help, I might still be vomiting in the hallways of that hotel. I was lucky, I didn't get HIV and for that I am grateful. If anyone cares to know, I do have chronic Hepatitis C, but thankfully I responded well to treatment and am in full remission if not cured. Yes I am one of the riff raff, or am I?
I hope you all don;t mind my rambling...
All my best
Lenny
Posted By: Local
Date: Friday, 25 May 2001, at 12:12 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Get rid of Hooker (Bill PHD Meehan)
To Bill PHD Meehan We Should'nt throw stones when were in the same business
CIRCUS
Posted By: Bill PHD Meehan <BILLMEEHAN@MEEHANREALTY.COM>
Date: Friday, 9 June 2000, at 9:04 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Get rid of Hooker (diane)
HARRY C UNDER MY ADVICE PROVIDED A GREAT SERVICE TO COMMUNITY FOR BRINGING THE CIRCUS TO TOWN. OVER 7,500 PEOPLE ATTENDED. OUR COMPANY BOUGHT 10 ADULTS AND THEY BROUGHT THEIR CHILDREN. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE FAMILIES TOGETHER. I WANTED TO BRING IN THE WINDHAM VOL. FIREFIGHTERS AND THE SHERIFF DEPT WOULD PROVIDE SAFTY SERVICE FOR FREE. HARRY THOUGHT HE COULD GET A DEAL WITH THE LOCAL COPS. AND FIRE DEPT. I GUESS HE WAS TAUGHT A LESSON ON THAT ONE.
I STRONGLY SUGGEST THE TOWN HIRE HARRY AND HIS LITTLE BUDDY TO BECOME TOWN MANAGER. HE COULD MAKE THE CIRCUS BALLOON FEST, CLAM BAKE, KIDS PARK AND THE YMCA ALL WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WE COULD ALL SHARE IN THE GLORY.
Posted By: Dennis <pppddd@hotmail.com>
Date: Wednesday, 7 November 2001, at 10:32 p.m.
In Response To: Get rid of Hooker (Concerned Resident)
Whois ye to judge the quality of anyone life. The so-called low life’s you refer to are humans and I would be more proud to be associated with them than anyone holier than thou. You don’t have a clue to what it is to be poor and have to live there. I thank god for the Hooker Hotel and the residents that are housed there. If not for the Hooker mentaly and addicted and homeless people would not have a roof over their heads. Be greatfull you do and get off of people that cant defend themselves from people like you. Dennis
Posted By: Wendi Clark <thequeenbea2001@hotmail.com>
Date: Friday, 9 November 2001, at 10:09 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Get rid of Hooker (Lenny)
Lenny you don't ramble. You just say it like it is for you. Many people can't do that ~ I can, and I am grateful for that. I had achieved 'The American Dream' long before I hit The Hotel Hooker, I had a traumatic personal family tragedy and instead of getting help I dove head first into escape ~ yes with drugs and anything else that allowed me not to think about it. Needless to say, I lost everything. The Hotel Hooker became my home and I was accepted there. I brought food to the older residents who wouldn't go to the soup kitchen ( boy they knew when I was comming with all my empty containers!) I cleaned their rooms for them --- FREE OF CHARGE. I even made sure the other PROSTITUTES didn't rob them on 'check day'. You see 'Concerned Residents' there is so much more to ADDICTS, PROSTITUTES, and the MENTALLY ILL. And in my heart I know there are others out there like me... who desperately want to change. My time came when my time came. Not in your time. Give up trying to CONTROL the closing of The Hotel Hooker. Put your energies elsewhere... like finding the FUNDING to HELP these people!!! Karma people, Karma... You get what you give!!! Isn't there a Histoical Society in Willimantic? Isn't that where the research came to tell us all about the green pooping frogs on the new bridge? ~ Wendi ~
Posted By: Shemp
Date: Friday, 9 November 2001, at 11:53 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Get rid of Hooker (Wendi Clark)
Hey all, listen up:
The Hooker Hotel has a real history in Willi and it should be preserved as part of Main Street's historical look....knocking it down will serve no purpose...Main St has already suffered enough. What would relace it.. a goddam parking lot...
As a kid I was in there a lot to get a haircut at Archambault's barber shop in the lobby or a bite at the chinese joint and later the american restaurant where they had great pot roast.... one of the stores in front of bldg ( right side going out) was a record shop and we would go in there and play Elvis records before we bought them in 50s ..i
Afterall, the Hooker was primarly a working persons residence and it served the commnity well. so why knock it down or dump those poor souls out of there. It is our responsbility to take care of people who cannot take care of themselves...
Keep the hooker hotel....focus on developing Main St and getting it up and running again., and making it all better for everyone.
as for Ms. Wendi--hurray for you lady!!
Shemp Daugnault Semper Fi '55
Posted By: Wendi Clark <thequeenbea2001@hotmail.com>
Date: Saturday, 10 November 2001, at 7:48 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Get rid of Hooker (Shemp)
Thank you Mr. Shemp! I see you write in about alot of things in this forum. I wish I had stayed in one place long enough to know 'the roots'. The more I read about Willimantic on the internet the more I realize what a Historic and 'really cool' town I was disrespecting by standing on the corner in my micro mini's and 6" stilletos ( most of all I was disrespecting myself though ). I love The Hotel Hooker and know that my experiences there helped me get to where I am today. The corner of Main and Bank Streets would look NAKED without that magnificent building. It just needs a 'FACELIFT' like many older people with the ALMIGHTY $$$$ get. HMMM... Now there's a thought!!! I just LOVE the mural drawn on the Bank Street side of the building, too. If it wasn't for my favorite Willimantic Cop ~ too bad he quit ~ I'm sure I'd still be gracing that corner with my lovely legs! HA HA!!! Anyway I'll say it again you 'Concerned Residents' LOOK IN YOUR OWN BACKYARDS!!! and focus on something that will HELP OTHERS ~ remember that KARMA thing!!! ~Wendi ~
Posted By: Michael Cormier <HOUndog1@hotmail.com>
Date: Friday, 30 November 2001, at 11:42 p.m.
In Response To: Re: Get rid of Hooker (Wendi Clark)
Iwould like to thank the willimantic arrow outreach workers while i was staying at the hotel hooker i was nearly dead when outreach program found me when I o.d. Ather they gave me counseling an changed my life and if wasn't for suport of the peaple at the hooker hotel I would not be alive today.