From the 1800s into the early 1920s, picnicking was an enjoyable way for families and groups to enjoy a pleasant day.”The Willimantic Chronicle”  stories of the 1890s cite many wpnderful picnic areas such as “The Oaks” and “Young’s Grove”, both on Pleasant Street, Bingham’s Grove, Columbia Green and Bailey’s Ravine. Groups such as the Thread City Cyclers, Companies of the Willimantic Fire Department, and businesses and church groups would often have much more elaborate picnics complete with a clambake or oyster roast and be accompanied by a local orchestra. A July, 1880 article stated, “The Willimantic band will hold their second annual picnic, clam bake and musical festival, at Young's Grove, on Monday, July 4th. The clam bake will be under the management of Mr. George W. Phillips, the successful caterer of the Hook and Ladder Co., which is guarantee of a first class bake.” Vintage photographs from that era also show that many of the groups enjoyed having “before and after” pictures taken. The group would be seen before the picnic, either standing around or enjoying the meal and then, afterward, relaxing on the ground. This week’s photo is from a picnic which was held “on upper Ash St. near Eaton’s Ice House”. It appears to have been a picnic for many of Willimantic’s leading citizens since, among 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 Reid Superintendent of the dyeing department at the Willimantic Linen Company) , Jim Small (owner of a horseshoeing business and a hotel) , Eugene Boss (agent for Willimantic Linen/ATCO), 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 (a local farmer), Fred Vinton (Station Agent from Eagleville), Charles Daniels (foreman at the Lincoln and Boss lumberyard), George Prouty and Charles Dimmick (Willimantic Postmaster).For questions or comments about this  week’s photo or article, please e-mail us at “threadcity@outlook.com”.

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