In 1945, Anthony McKenna wrote a book about sports in Willimantic. In the book, he made poetic mention of the mayor. “While walking down our old Main Street; a smiling face you’re apt to meet. A personality so rare; our smiling, likeable little Mayor. A firm handclasp his way to greet; you’ve guessed it right, our good friend “Pete”.” He was referring to Willimantic Mayor Pierre J. Laramee. Born in 1882 in Rhode Island, he came to Willimantic in 1894 during a time when large groups of French Canadians were moving in. Fortunately, the French-Canadians proved to be hard workers and were soon accepted in the community. Pierre Laramee’s father, Michel Laramee, quickly became a business owner, the town Tree Warden and very well respected citizen of the city. Pierre was just as hard a worker. He started out in the business world as a boy in the cotton mills and then became connected with the grocery business as an employee in the store of Mullins & St. Onge. He remained as a clerk with that firm for three years and in 1907, in connection with a partner, organized the Trudeau-Laramee Company. They established a grocery store in a small way but after six months he became sole proprietor. The store was said to be.” splendidly equipped, and is supplied with various modern makes of refrigerators and other equipment that provides for the sanitary care of groceries, meats and provisions. He has a most select trade and is one of the popular young men of the city.” Over the years, he developed many other business, civic and social connections in the city. He became a director of the Willimantic Trust Company and a stockholder in the C. S. C. Paper Box Mills of Willimantic. He was a member of the Elks Club, the French Club, the Loyal Order of Moose and was also the president of the Garde Florimond, of which he was treasurer for several years. His heavy involvement in Willimantic affairs bore fruit in his bids for office. In 1917, he earned the distinction of being the first French-Canadian to be elected to represent Windham in the state legislature of Connecticut. He served in the State House from 1917-18 and 1923-1924. In 1935 he ran for the office of Mayor. In a year in which most surrounding communities elected Republicans, Laramee, a Democrat won by a margin of 80 votes in the largest voter turnout in the city’s history. The City Council, however, went to the Republicans 5 to 2. Two years later he again ran against John Ahern, this time beating him by 572 votes. The City Council was also restored to democratic leadership 5-2. During his time as Mayor, he had also been elected as a State Senator from the 29^th district and served three terms in the Senate. In 1939, Governor Baldwin proposed the closing of what was now called “The Teachers College” in Willimantic. Laramee quickly called together the Windham County legislators to mount an opposition to the measure. “I don’t see where Windham ever got anything from the State of Connecticut. If they take the teachers college away from us, there will be nothing left”, Laramee told the gathering, “We haven’t had a thing from the state so let’s try to keep what we have got”. Due to his efforts, the Appropriations Committee of the Legislature “flatly turned down” Baldwin’s proposal to shut the school.Laramee also led an investigation into the allegations of maltreatment of children and embezzlement at the Windham County Temporary Home for neglected children. He promised to “blow the lid off the investigation”. The outcome of the investigation led to better  treatment for the children, more funds for the institution and also several arrests and jail terms for individuals. Historian Allen B. Lincoln said of Laramee, “His activities are broad and touch the general interests of society and at all times his aid and influence are given on the side of advancement and progress. He has been connected with many movements of great civic worth and at all times he is recognized as a strong and purposeful man — strong in his honor and his good name, strong in his ability to plan and perform” (52) Today’s photo shows Laramee speaking at what we believe was the 1938 Memorial Day observance. At that time, Windham Field was in the process of being converted to Veterans’ Memorial Park as part of a WPA project  

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