Archived Topics
memorable willi characters, personalities,
Posted By: Ted
Date: Friday, 25 May 2001, at 10:59 p.m.
okay you nostalgia buffs -- i am throwing out some names of willi folks from the past that left their indelible mark on our fair city.
-- Bernard Dumas -- Nick " the Stick" -- George Junior, Jr. -- Sonny Adams -- Russell Rogers -- Louie Osso -- Baheesh Faisel ( he was known as the 'hat man' -- he used to walk up and down main st and keep changing several hats he had in a bag...he wore rouge, etc. worked in a carnival at one time) -- Bealoo ( in the 50s he rode a bike all over town ...it had lots of aerials and handle bar streamers on it ...he honked a big horn that was on the handle bars). -- Louise Davol -- Harry Anchell
maybe you folks have other memorable and colorful people -- who helped define willimantic as a city that was very special.
1 post missing
Posted By: bs <CPSS29@aol.com>
Date: Saturday, 26 May 2001, at 11:02 p.m.
In Response To: Re: memorable willi characters, personalities, (William Brainard)
Ted,
Good names. Remember most and many related anecdotes.
I had forgotten about George Jounier, Jr. but always remember "Nick the Stick" and nameless others hanging out at the Lucky Strike Bowling Alley.
In the early 50's I recall Pointsianna briskly walking along Windham Road and Tony Chassie strolling down Valley Street. Ernie Atwood was also ringing the bell for the Salvation Army on frigid winter evenings in front of the 5 & 10.
Posted By: Ernie <egflys@aol.com>
Date: Tuesday, 29 May 2001, at 11:48 p.m.
In Response To: memorable willi characters, personalities, (Ted)
How about the Evachowski's? Billy could really fire the bowling ball at the duck pins at the old Lucky Strike. In fact if you were setting pins for his team there was a good chance of getting hit in the head by one of the flying pins. (ouch) Jocko always carried a racing form where ever he went. I wonder if he ever hit it big.
Posted By: Ted
Date: Saturday, 2 June 2001, at 9:11 p.m.
In Response To: Re: memorable willi characters, personalities, (Ernie)
i remember bill and jocko alright. bill was the janitor at the Gem Theatre and also worked in the kitchen at Bill #7 . quite a nice guy. and jocko was a regular at lucky strike back in 50s like his brother. both bill and jocko are dead and buried at the st. joe's cemetery...they did not live to be to old.
1 post missing
Posted By: Ilene <ilene1281@att.net>
Date: Wednesday, 13 June 2001, at 10:38 p.m.
In Response To: memorable willi characters, personalities, (Ted)
I lived in Willi in the 50's as a teenager and have a strong desire to talk to somebody about life in Willi in the 50's and reminisce. I never did get Willi out of my heart and those were the best years of my life. Everything was so innocent and new and wonderful and stress free. I couldn't think of a better place to grow up. I spent time walking in the woods, and walking home from school with beautiful orange and red leaves crunching under my feet. I used to take walks to the old cemetery at the end of high street. I remember Remi's grinders and I think he's still there. Of course the foot bridge and all those big beautiful homes on Pleasant Street with those wrap-around porches. I would also like to know what happened to a lot of people I knew. PLEASE, somebody email or instant message me through MSN Messenger.