Hal White Orchestra
From the 1920s until the early 40s, marching
bands and dance bands provided much of the music
for all types of Willimantic events. The
“Al-Pierre Tabarin” on Valley Street was one of
Eastern Connecticut’s premier dance spots. Hal
White had studied at the Boston Conservatory of
Music and put this band together in the early
1930s. Local musicians included Kerman Lavigne
(tenor sax), Clarence Sylvester (banjo), Bill
and Ray Buckingham (trumpets), Roy Grover
(drums),Lester Carter (piano), Rodney Clune
(alto sax), and Hal White (violin and sax)
.
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 Willimantic's
Finest
Willimantic's Finest are pictured here in this
1892 photograph, posing outside the old police
station on the west side of Church street. The
building in the rear was built by the Natchaug
Silk Company in 1889, and fronted onto North
Street. The police station was removed to the
town hall in 1894, but this structure continued
to be used as a lock up when the cells at the
town hall were full.
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Thread City Cyclers
This is a photo of the "Thread City Cyclers".
They are pictured outside the Tilden Block. The
Cyclers were very active in early Willimantic
social life and had a meeting room in the Tilden
Block. The Tilden Block was sold to the Jordan's
and was later destroyed by fire.
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 Primary
Educators trying out a teaching technique.This
is a group of students at the Normal School.
They are celebrating "The Coming of Spring". The
picture is from the 1921-1922 Normal School
catalog.The 1914 issue of "Primary Education"
devoted several pages to methods of teaching
children about Spring. There were several photos
showing ideas for the teaching process.
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 Letter
Carriers in front of Post Office.The
photo was taken on July 23, 1914 in front of the
old Post Office. Those pictured were the letter
carriers and “mounted carriers” of that time.
Pictured, left to right, are :George K. Allen.,
Joseph Paulhus, ?? Jackson, Clarence Palmer,
John Smith. Clarence Barrows, Edward Syman,
Anson Syman (mounted city carrier). Not in
picture : Dwight Ide, George Arnold.
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The Knights of
Columbus Boys BandThe
Knights of Columbus Boys Band stands in front of
the north door of Natchaug School. . It was
organized in 1917 by Charles Wheeler and played
at Willimantic events until the early 1930s.
They are in front of the north door of Natchaug
School. This band started out as "The American
Boy's Band" and was part of a local Boy Scout
Troop. When the troop lost its charter, Wheeler
was able to get a new sponsor - the Knights of
Columbus. Years later, the band became known as
"The Thread City Cadets.
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Loomer's Opera HouseThis
photo was taken inside the Loomer's Opera House.
It would be wonderful if someone could identify
the event as well.
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Leading Citizens Picnic - July 16, 1890Among
the men identified are :Arthur Bill (General
Manager of Hall and Bill Printing Co.) , James
Ross (the agent for Eagleville Mills) , Oscar
Tanner (tavern owner and soon-to-be Willimantic
mayor), Charles Boss (owner of Church St.
lumberyard), Charles Leonard (chief engineer of
the Fire Department) , Jim Reed , Jim Small
(hotel owner) , Eugene Boss (agent for
Willimantic Linen/ATCO).
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 Picnic
- July 16, 1890 - Near Eaton's Ice PondSame
group - different pose. Others attending were :
Charles Gates (agent for the New York, New Haven
and Hartford Railroad) , E. Frank Bugbee (lawyer
and prosecuting attorney) , D.A. Lyman
(insurance agent and judge of the Police Court)
, James M. Smith Windham First Selectman),
George Bartlett (Willimantic Chronicle), Charles
Holbrook, Fred Vinton, Charles Daniels, George
Prouty and Charles Dimock.
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Thread City Cyclers Picnic
This
1902 photo shows the Thread City Cyclers after a
bicycle trip to Phelps Crossing. Early
“Chronicle” editor/publisher George Augustus
Bartlett is standing third from the left and
wearing a winged T-shirt.
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 The
Odell Chapman Continental Drum Corps“Chronicle”
reader Bob Castillo correctly identified this
photo as the Thread City Continentals and their
leader, Mr. Odell Chapman who was a Drummer,
Drum Major, and Master Drum Builder. Every drum
in that photograph taken in front of the Town
Hall was built by Mr. Chapman (front, center
center with all the medals). Note all the
trophies on the ground in front of the corps.
They were strong competitors and obviously very
proficient at their art.
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Hilltop Hose -
Willimantic Fire DepartmentCompany
Three - the "Hilltoppers"
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The Willimantic
Baseball Association DirectorsThese
are the directors of the Willimantic Baseball
Association which was formed in 1901 : Danny P.
Dunn, L.B. Lincoln, E.S. Wyatt, A.L. Griswold,
Oscar O. Tanner, C.H. Dimmick, A.F. McQuillan,
F.A. Hathaway and E.J. Gilligan. The association
fenced in the newly leased Windham Field, built
a large grandstand and bleachers and games began
to be held. Windham Field, in later years,
became Memorial Park.
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 Line
Work CrewThis
is line work crew from the Willimantic office of
the telephone company.
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Normal School - The 22
Club “The 22
Club” was one of the organizations for students
at the Normal School. It was founded by the
class of ’22 and its purpose was "to encourage
an understanding attitude toward the
theater...and to encourage the use of drama in
community recreation”
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Knights of Columbus.
April 24, 1921
The photo shows a group in front of the Town
Hall following a Knights of Columbus
initiation/degree ceremony on April 24, 1921.
Second from the right in the third row is future
Willimantic Mayor Pierre J. Laramee. The
significance of the goat is unclear although old
K of C literature here and there contains
references to "riding the goat".
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ATCO's Mill Number Six
Championship Baseball TeamATCO
Mill #6 Championship Baseball Team in 1913. We
think the man in the center, holding the trophy,
is Mr. Follett, the manager. “Buddy” Follett is
the mascot.
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Willimantic Rod and Gun ClubMembers
of the Willimantic Rod and Gun Club gather
outside their clubhouse and range which were
located at 347 High Street (where Windham High
is located today). The club was founded in the
late 1800s and remained active until 1910. A new
Willimantic Rod and Gun Club was formed in 1929
and used the National Guard rfile range on North
Windham Road.
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WHS 1908 Baseball Team
On June 22,
1908 the 1908 Windham High School baseball team
headed to the Connecticut High School Baseball
Championship at Yale Field. Two hundred Windham
fans also went to New Haven. Unfortunately, the
team lost to Hartford Public High School
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WHS 1908 Baseball Team Yale Field - 1908Later
in the day......
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Helmold's OrchestraAfter
the breakup of the old Opera House Orchestra, a
new orchestra was organized in 1900 by C.C.
Helmold to play at Loomer’s Opera House and it
played there until 1917
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 Hope
Valley BandThis
is a photo of the Hope Valley Band playing in
March, 1970 at Purple Heart, a social center in
Willimantic. From left to right, Ralph
Cabit-guitar , Dick Theriault-singer, John
Boudreau-drums, Dave Dinse-guitar, Ray
Macht-bass. Photo courtesy of Ralph Cabit.
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The Fabulous Sonics
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The
Destructions
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Garde
Florimond“Garde
Florimond” was a paramilitary organization
associated with the Franco-American Club. A
newspaper article called it “Willimantic’s crack
French organization” – a well deserved
compliment since the Garde had, on many
occasions, shown its proficiency in close order
drills. .The gentleman on the front right is
future Willimantic Mayor Pierre J. Laramee.
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American Thread Workers
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The Willimantic
Christian Endeavor UnionMembers
of the Willimantic Christian Endeavor Union are
gathered at the old Post Office. The local
chapter started in the late 1880s with the goal
of developing its members into future religious
and civic leaders. The April, 1929 statewide
convention was held in Willimantic with over 500
young people in attendance. During its early
years in town, it became a force in getting town
officials and the police department to regulate
what type of amusements were offered at the
Willimantic Fair.
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Willi PD 1930-31Last
week’s photo showed members of the Willimantic
Police Dept. in 1930. We believe Chief Walter
King is front and center and that Captain
Killourey is on the far right. The back of the
photo has this information: 1st Row Leahy,
Marrotte, Grady, Piche, King, McLean 2nd Row:
Hurley, LaChappelle, Meikle, Laramie, Killourey
Back Row: Lutton, Burchnall, ?, Dawson.
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Holland Mill WorkersHere
is a group of workers at the Holland Mills on
Church and Valley Streets.
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 The
Venerables"The
Venerables". The criteria for joining the group
was that a person needed to be at least 70 years
of age. “The Venerable Club” was begun by
hotelier Seth C. Hooker. The first meeting was
held in June, 1902 and the group continued to
meet on a yearly basis for about 20 years. The
picture, we think, is of the 1903 gathering.
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Hal White and his
AristocratsHal
White had studied at the Boston Conservatory of
Music and put this band together in the early
1930s. Local musicians included Kerman Lavigne
(tenor sax), Clarence Sylvester (banjo), Bill
and Ray Buckingham (trumpets), Roy Grover
(drums),Lester Carter (piano), Rodney Clune
(alto sax), and Hal White (violin and sax). The
photo was taken at the Capitol Theater.
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 1925
graduates of Saint Joseph’s Hospital Training
SchoolThese
are the 1925 graduates of Saint Joseph’s
Hospital Training School. The hospital had a two
year, three month training program. The grads
from Willimantic are Mary McKenna on the far
left and Mary Moriarty on the far right. The
hospital served the community from 1907-1933
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Four members of
"Mattie and the Lads" OrchestraLeo
Dion, Ozzie Beller, Ray “Sy” Sypher and Ralph
Williams were members of the popular Mattie
Mattison Orchestra (also known as Mattie and the
Lads). They practiced at the “Al-Pierre Tabarin”
on Valley Street and played there on Friday
nights. By the late 30s, the “Al-Pierre” was
considered to be one of the finest dance halls
in Eastern Connecticut.
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Mill Workers
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American
Legion Band
The American Legion Post 19 Band. In 1931
the Corps won the championship prize for
drilling ability and musical performance in the
statewide American Legion drum corps
competition.
Fourth from the left in the front row is Ernest
Liberty, former owner of Liberty Restaurant. On
the far right of the front row is his
brother-in-law George Robinson who worked in the
Town Hall.
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District 1 School students
(Windham Street School - 1901)
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Police, Auxiliary
Police and Civil Defense team gather with Chief
Grant Bombria in the early 1950s
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Thread City Croakers
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Thread City
Croakettes
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Thread City Croakettes
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Thread City
Four
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American Legion
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The Mattie
Mattison Orchestra
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The Eagles
Photo courtesy of Mickey Seretny
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Wanderettes
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Photo courtesy of Chuck Straub
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Garde Sacred Heart
photo courtesy of
Butch Ives
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Garde Sacred Heart in
1925
photo courtesy of
Butch Ives
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Spanish American War Veterans
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1865 Photo of Southern New England Telephone
Company work gang - in Willimantic to install
utility poles |
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Elks Band.
The band was led by local legendary musician
Charles Wheeler (kneeling, to the right of the
drum).
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Letter Carriers
This photo was taken on July 23, 1914 in front
of the old Post Office. Those pictured were the
letter carriers and “mounted carriers” of that
time: George K. Allen., Joseph Paulhus, ?
Jackson, Clarence Palmer, John Smith. Clarence
Barrows, Edward Syman, Anson Syman (mounted city
carrier).
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American Legion Baseball Team
This is the 1950 American Legion
Baseball team in back of Leonard Motor’s garage
(the team’s sponsor) on Meadow Street. Maurice
Leonard of Leonard Motors is standing at the
rear right side.
Top Row: F. O’Brien, Donovan, Frank
Cutko, Don Chandler, Dick Battey,Roger
Ouellette, Tom Sullivan, Rod O’Donald, Willie
Rivers, Charlie Coriarty,
Manager Shepaum, Maurice
Leonard.
Bottom Row: Steve Vandis, Don Chanski,
Adeeb Haddad, Al Saba,
Batboy Mike Shepaum, Joe
Rasicot, Carl Ellison...Hal Ridgeway, Pete
Cronin.
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St. Jean Baptist Society 1930 Convention Around six hundred people attended from around
New England. The photo shows the members from
Saint Mary’s Church. By the mid 1920s, the
French-Canadian influence was growing in
Willimantic. Many of the present and future town
leaders were members. In the photo are Alexis
Caisse, Sr, a well-known stone mason and
businessman and his son, Alexis Caisse, Jr. who
would become the Superintendent of Streets.
Future mayors Pierre J. Laramee and Florimond J.
Bergeron are in the photo along with the
influential Bacon sisters.
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Willimantic Police
Department and CD AuxiliariesThis
1952 photo shows members of the Willimantic
Police Department. Police Chief Grant Bombria
had appointed police auxiliaries and Civil
Defense personnel in response to the nation’s
new “Civil Defense Structure”. Among those in
the photograph are Chief Bombria, First
Selectman Ralph Crosthwaite, Stanley Harris,
Calvin Harris, Jessie Owens, Jim Spurlock, Paul
Pinkiewicz and Andre Marrotte. |
Photo courtesy of Bill Sayers |
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