The Hebronian December 2008 Page 1 Volume 7, Issue 3 ... - Gulemo

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“They don’t make town’s like that anymore!” This is typical of the e- mail comments I enjoy from readers of my website who are hopefully treated by recollections of what it was like to live over 40 years ago in the rural section of Hebron called “Gilead.” Throughout those 40 years of raising a family away from my hometown, it was always a treat for me to frequently re-visit Hebron and Gilead with my kids and point out over and over again the places, and tell over and over again, the stories of that special place where I grew up in a family of five kids—on a 400 acre dairy farm yet. At the time, I could only entertain visions of extricating myself from a small town to an urban place of exciting city life—away from farms and country folk with country ways I could not fully appreciate. In the summers I rode the tractor around the hay fields (and let me tell you it was a different experience from driving tractors today) dreaming of someday having an office in a busy place and wearing a suit and tie to work every day. I learned the meaning of “Be careful for what you ask—you may get it!” and I did. At Left: With Ronald Miner Hughes, Jason Castonguay, concert pianist & vocalist and family friend. At Right: sister Betty Miner Cordani (center); Nephew Michael Cordani (left); and Brother-in-law Bruno Cordani (right) at their Gilead home of over 50 years. BILL BENDER WALLCOVERING CONTRACTOR Wallcovering installations Interior painting Wallpaper removal Plaster and sheetrock repair Residential ~ Commercial Quality and Integrity since 1977 860-228-3974 The Hebronian December 2008 Page 24 HOME AGAIN IN GILEAD—After over 40 years! by Ronald Miner Hughes Years later, for many years I got my fill of office, suit and tie, and all that goes with it. However, those colleagues and patients who visited any of my offices would always inquire about my pictures and trinkets of cows, and farms and, of course, had no idea what they were in for when they asked. The tables had turned—there I was, at one point with 2 offices at the same time, dealing with meetings, telephone calls, 3 rd Pay phone number installed in Hebron at the “old” RHAM High in 1957. The first was at Hebron Elementary School and the 2 nd at Frank & Marion’s Grocery Store. deadlines, consultations, presentations, projects—with suit and tie and secretaries, to boot—but this time, dreaming of living in the country, near the cows and farms, and woods, and the likes. And now, after well over 40 years, I’ve come full circle and am delightfully, home again—not in just a small town, but the hometown where the memories were and are. But, now, I’m almost the stranger in town—to most, anyway. As I talk with my classmates (none left in town), who still hold Hebron close to heart, we say, “Who are these people living in our town They don’t know about all the things that once were—but yet, they say, “Welcome to our town.” Then they say after my response, “Welcome back!” And, of course, I say, “It’s great to be back!” And I think, “Oh, there are so many wonderful things I remember. I wonder if they’d like to know about these wonderful stories of half a century ago. Then, to my delight, I see, “Ah, they do!” I discover all these “new” people are interested and have gleaned from those still around from yesteryear, for lack of a better word, a “delicious” collection of not only 40 or 50 years—but 300 years and are celebrating it. What a wonderful time to have come back home. Can you imagine—and I know you can, what it’s like for your grandchild to say, “Grampy— show me the cows,” and I do. I wonder still, “Will people want to know what it was like to have dances at the Grange Hall, and have Christmas Caroling on hayrides, and ice skating on Way’s pond Will people want to know what it was like to listen carefully when your party line phone rang to know if it would be a double ring to indicate it was for you—or would it turn out to be one long and one short for Bob Warner’s house, or 3 short for Homer Hills’s house—or one long for Mr. and Mrs. Way’s house Does anyone care that their telephone numbers at that time were 3-0152 for the Warners, 3-3623 for the Hills, or 3-4426 for the Way’s Will anyone care that in the 1950’s when we lived in Gilead, we had a Willimantic telephone number, and an Andover mailing address Will anyone care that Billy Hills was our postmaster and he knew everyone by first name and there were no street numbers Will anyone care that my Dad, Ralph Miner, had to call ACademy 8-3146 to ask Doug or Mary Porter for a permit to burn trash Will E-mail your news to: hebronian@gulemo.com
anyone care that my Mom, Emma Miner, milked cows in the morning before getting me off to school Will anyone care that there were 6 school buses #1-6 for the whole town Will anyone care that we had to pay a long distance charge to call some of our neighbors who had Colchester, Manchester, Glastonbury, or East Hampton phone numbers—even though they lived in Hebron Will anyone care to know how Alice Fogil drove up and down Gilead Street in the middle of the night calling, “Fire! Fire!” to awaken us to a barn burning in the night I cared—my bicycle was in it! Will anyone care to know about the old water wells, now almost hidden, that are still in existence— though not used, but once important supply systems for the farms Will anyone want to know about Edna and Jesse Post’s Jersey cow that was led up and down Gilead Street on a regular basis Will anyone want to know about Norm Warner’s team of horses that were also led up and down Gilead Street—long after they were working, but just for exercise in their retirement Will anyone want to know about the mysterious bell ringing in the steeple of the Gilead Church—when no one seemed to be there Will anyone want to know about the ice cream parlor at Grandpa Fogil’s store—and the free candy he gave to almost every kid who came to the store—not to mention the free ½ gallons of ice cream he gave out on Christmas Will anyone want to know about one of the first TV’s in Gilead—with a hidden antenna in the attic to avoid too many kids from showing up every night Will anyone want to know about Annie Foote’s cream-colored convertible just about every kid in town rode in Will anyone want to know about the run-away tractor at Wellesway Farm Will anyone want to know that all the Gilead kids had an Aunt Do, a Grandma Foote, a Grandma Ding, an Uncle Adolph, and a Grandpa Fogil—who really weren’t our grandma’s or uncle or aunt Will anyone want to know about the May Baskets and June Boxes in Gilead Will anyone want to know about George Borsotti’s car accident caused by a blue lighted Christmas tree in Gilead Will anybody want to know where Jack Lendy’s “shack” was, and what’s there now Will anybody want to know about the Harrison’s Parcheesi games Will anybody want to know which teacher drove a school bus and shook the living daylights out of kids who were out of line Will anybody want to know where the first payphone (ACademy 8-9484) in town was installed Will anybody want to know who Rosemary Secord was and why her radio was haunted Will anybody want to know who had the first car in Gilead with electric windows (1950 Lincoln) Will anybody want to know where Charlie Barrasso’s name was inscribed in wood Will anybody want to know where Charlie Warner hid a Nichol in cement Will anyone want to know who smoked a cigarette in one of Jean Simon’s three attics Will anyone want to know what “riding the goat” meant to Gileadites Will anyone want to know who in Gilead had a huge fireworks display and watermelon for everyone in their Gilead yard every 4 th of July Will anyone want to know what Gilead Minister used sheep instead of a lawn mower—and whose dog ate all of his chickens but one Will anyone want to know about the story of the mysterious Mrs. Henwell and Albert of Gilead I suppose all of these crucial historical facts may remain a mystery along with all those not even mentioned here. It’s not a wonder that I cannot remember what happened to me yesterday. Someone said my mind is too cluttered with Gilead’s and Hebron’s “important” memories! Someone said I should write them down. Perhaps I’ve started. Please feel welcome to visit my website: www.HughesSpeaking.com to share more memories. Yes, it’s great to be home—once again in my favorite town, once again in an historic farmhouse, and once again, with family, and with friends who were and friends who’ll be! Hallmark Cards HEBRON PHARMACY, INC. Your Full-Service Family Pharmacy 117 Main Street Hebron, Conn. 860-228-3888 Hometown Service Since 1974 Cosmetics Gifts Russell Stover Candies Hours: Monday~Friday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Affiliated with Hebron Pharmacy HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RESPIRATORY OXYGEN WOUND CARE UROLOGICALS OSTOMY SUPPLIES NUTRITIONALS SELF-DIAGNOSTICS BATH AIDS ORTHOPEDIC CARE UPS SHIPPING SERVICE Third-party Billing: Medicare ~ Medicaid PREFERRED PROVIDERS OF DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR: Major Insurance Companies, HMOs ~ Medicaid - Medicare Major Credit Cards Accepted Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - noon 103 Main Street, Hebron, CT 06248 Tel: 860 228-0606 The Hebronian December 2008 Page 25
Page 1 and 2: The Free Hebronian Volume 7, Issue
Page 3 and 4: PHONE NUMBERS Emergency/Fire/Police
Page 5 and 6: there are many interruptions in pow
Page 7 and 8: Every Thursday and Friday evening,
Page 9 and 10: 7:10 AM PAUL HARVEY’S REST OF THE
Page 11 and 12: When the heavily insured collection
Page 13 and 14: AHM Celebrates Twenty Fifth Anniver
Page 15 and 16: Hebron Artists Show: A New Annual E
Page 17 and 18: Town Hall for those who want a keep
Page 19 and 20: HVFD’s Annual Wreath & Poinsettia
Page 21 and 22: Respite from the economic worries f
Page 23: RHAM Football Coach Don Hammon, a F
Page 27 and 28: Hebron Elementary Celebrates Vetera
Page 29 and 30: Gilead Cemetery Association Elects
Page 31 and 32: Caring for Women is a Way of Life f

The Hebronian December 2008 Page 1 Volume 7, Issue 3 ... - Gulemo

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