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Moodus Center Before the 1906 Fire
It was a growing mill town on the bank of the Moodus River
Before the 1906 Fire
Looking north toward Main Street (now Falls Rd., Rte 149). The green with its Civil War monument is on the right, the Amasa Day House barely seen on the left.
Looking west at the Music Hall, Purple & Silliman and T.R. Spencer, all destroyed in the fire.
The business district showing two of the three buildings burned to the ground (left). The green is to the right (c. 1904).
The Music Hall is in the foreground with Purple & Silliman its neighbor (c. 1905).
Mill owner Albert E. Purple's Probate office was upstairs, Purple & Silliman dry goods store was below. It later moved to a building next door (c. 1900).
Thaddeus R. Spencer's store was lost to the fire (c. 1900).
The January, 28, 1906, fire destroyed several buildings in Moodus Center. It was said to have been started by thieves in the Purple & Silliman store.
A view looking west of the section of town destroyed by the fire (1906).
The Rebuilt Center Prospered for Decades
Millworkers, farmers, and vacationers shopped and gathered there in the first half of the 1900s
In Its Heyday
Looking east up Long Hill, now Rte 149. Brownell's lower mill is on the left, the Machimoodus House on the right (1910).
The Moodus Green with Main St. buildings rebuilt after the 1906 fire (1911).
The eastern section of the business district with Moodus Drug Store and Moodus Tavern behind Zelvin's in the foreground (1935).
Looking west on Main St. with the Finast grocery store behind the first location of Weinstein's Soda Shop, later occupied by Levine's Soda Shop (1935)
A winter view of Weinstein's shop, later the location of Bill Levine's soda shop (1934).
L. Zelvin storefront (1935).
Louis Zelvin in front of his store (1935).
Helen Zelvin in her parents' store (1935).
Moodus Drug Store, next door to Zelvin's (1935).
Patrons, or proud owners, of Moodus Tavern, which was adjacent to Moodus Drug Store (1930s).
A.E. Olmstead in front of his market (1940s).
The old village center is in the center of the picture, by the fork in the road of Falls Road (Rte. 149) and the now-closed access to North Moodus Road. The lumber yard is at the bottom of the photo, with Cashman's Garage, now Moodus Package Store, above it.
Moodus Center prospered during the first half of the 1900s, as evidenced by this c. 1938 photo of the busy business district.
Albert Pear's popular meat market (1960s)
The stairs on the left (at Pear's Market) led to The Gem Gallery. Those on the right (at Ray McMullen's Rexall drug store) led to Joe Tesar's barber shop (1960s)
Rexall Drugs, Pear's Dry Goods, and the Post Office (1960s).
The business district looking east, with the Post Office on the left. The building with the enclosed porch was a private residence (1960s).
Another view looking east, with Village Pizza, Ray's Food Mart and Mom's Luncheonette just past the private house (1960s).
Looking west from the fork in the road that branched to North Moodus Rd. from Falls Rd. The lot on the left is where 7-11 stands today, the green is in the center, at the roadway signs (1960s).
Harry Weinstein's Soda Shop was a popular gathering spot (1960s).
Another view looking west from Axelrod's Service Station. The sharp, downhill turnoff into North Moodus Rd. is on the right, just past the two parked cars, which shows the rooftop view of homes there (1940s).
This 1950s view shows Mrs. Levine's residence on the left with First National grocery and Levine's Soda Shop to the right. The stack of street signs behind the pedestrian are at the fork leading to North Moodus Rd. on the left with Falls Rd. continuing on the right. They point the way to the many North Moodus resorts.
A 1948 funeral procession for WWII hero Melvin Baron.
A Memorial Day parade down the Moodus main street in the 1950s.
Selling the Voters
Residents Were Sold on 'Progress'
Town voters approved destroying the village in order to save it
The cover of a flashy (for 1966) brochure, which was mailed to all residents citing the "slum" conditions of Moodus Center and the benefits of renewal.
The $4,000 model of the proposed new Moodus business district. It was perhaps the single most powerful factor in convincing voters of the project's value.
In order to qualify for federal urban renewal funding, the area needed to be deemed blighted. Consultants cited issues, parking, steep wooden steps, and cinderblock foundations as evidence of blight. They used cherry-picked photos of properties to promote these conclusions to residents.
Removal of "substandard structures" meant the demolition of 33 existing buildings. A park and public open space were promised for the site of the old center., which was across the road from today's 7-11.
The agency promised nearly $2 million in public and private improvements while eliminating Moodus River contamination and a revitalized economy. "A real rosy picture," according to one resident.
Although the project boosters promised growth of the existing businesses and efficient execution, the process took five years to finish. The result was a disaster.
According to the redevelopment agency, the project would benefit residents by elimination of blight, opportunity for business growth, adequate parking, increased shopping facilities, a public park, and an increase in the Grand List. None of that happened.
This model showed what the town redevelopment agency promised voters once the old center was ripped down. The actual results of the renewal project made this look like Fantasy Island.
A closer view of the model of the proposed new Moodus shopping complex. It was part of an all-out campaign to sell the project to townspeople. The lumber yard complex is on the left, with Grist Mill Road to its right. It cost $4,000 ($28,000 in today's dollars).
The 18-month sales campaign to residents included six newsletters, 50 press releases, and several town meeting presentations.
The cover page of the December 1966 redevelopment agency's newsletter.
The list of business and residential properties to be acquired in the renewal effort.
Not acquired were Nora Cashman's residence, Cashman's Garage, and the Moodus Lumber property. The intersection of N. Moodus Rd. and Rte. 149 was deemed to be dangerous and in need of closure and a major re-configuration.
Steps like these were cited as unsafe and unrepairable. These were on the building that housed Paul's Package Store and Tony's Grill (1966)
Building support by mostly cinderblock foundations overlooking the Moodus River were examples of a blighted area, according to project promoters (1966).
Another view of the commercial building foundations on the river bank (1966).
Unsafe conditions of some of the buildings were considered a reason for the demolition of 33 buildings in the renewal area. (1966).
Business Slowed and Buildings Deteriorated
Traffic declined in the five dispiriting years from referendum to demolition and construction
Bernstein Hardware.
Pear's Market.
Rexall Drugs and Pear's Dry Goods.
Unidentified small building and the Levine residence.
An empty store, Ray's Food Mart and Mom's Luncheonette.
Moodus Tavern.
Stairs leading to Tommy's Barber over Moodus Tavern.
Weinstein's Soda Shop.
Pauls' Package Store and Tony's Grill.
The Treasure Chest with unidentified building behind it.
This small empty building, the smallest structure in the renewal area, was used as an example of "substandard" building stock.
The east end of the main business district. The stacked street signs in the center point to the many resorts in North Moodus. North Moodus Rd. starts to the left of the signs, with Rte. 149 continuing to the right.
Axelrod's Package Store and Texaco gas station
Looking west back toward the business center main street with Cashman's Garage on the right and Grist Mill Road on the right foreground.
Unidentified stone mill building.
The former Granite Mill.
Houses in the Renewal Area Also Came Down
Throwing the baby out with the bath water
Residences
Palmer Spencer house.
Barn behind the Palmer Spencer house.
Strick residence.
Shea residence.
Brennan residence.
Outbuilding behind the Brennan residence that was saved from demolition by town resident Ray Schmitt, who moved it to his Johnsonville property, where it served as a small chapel.
Axelrod residence.
Smith residence.
Bloomfield residence.
Strick residence.
Strick rooftop facing North Moodus Rd., seen from Rte. 149.
Weinstein residence.
Weinstein residence on North Moodus Rd. as seen from Rte. 149.
Stempian residence.
Nichols residence.
The Cashman residence was spared demolition and moved around the corner to Grist Mill Rd.
Project's Outcome Was Worst-case Scenario
The renewal project took five years to complete, in total failure
The center of the street emptied and awaiting demolition.
Weinstein's Soda Shop right before demolition.
A residential building being torn down with the business district across the street.
The razing starts in the center.
Ray's Food Mart and Levine's Soda Shop in back of a huge construction pit.
Looking east from the old North Moodus Rd. intersection, with Axelrod's service station on the right.
Start of the demolition of Rexall, Pear's and the Post Office.
The Post Office, a small building and the Levine Residence being demolished.
Ripping down the Granite Mill.
Close-up of the Granite Mill demolition.
The renewal area with the business district noted.
Demolition
Painting of Moodus Center by Robert Sweeney
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