Thompsonville Book Two 1900-1977 - Paperback

by Peter F. Sorenson (Author)

The century begins with a massive expansion of the Hartford Carpet Corporation, inviting émigrés from Italy and Poland. Three influential figures emerge in the village: Antonio John Gannuscio; Edward Bromage; and Father Stanislaus Federkiewicz.

Against the backdrop of the Great Depression, Italians from Springfield build a pyrotechnics manufactory in the north end, the Polish immigrants build the Polish National Home, boxing begins in Wawel Hall, a Demon House encourages a double murder, a trusted Polish neighbor is arrested for embezzlement, the Carvilles start State Line Potato Chips, Sapsuzian builds the VFW Belmont Avenue outdoor boxing arena, Renner and O'Shea open the General Waxed Paper Company, Bartolotta and Dei Delori revive bootlegging, Piepul plays football, Gamble sells newspapers, 'Buddy' Fitzgerald is tragically gunned down, DeCaro murders Bonelli, Bruno commits a crime that captures the attention of the tri-state area, and local pigeon racing and marbles enthusiasts celebrate Thompsonville champions.

Mother Nature tests the village with water in 1936, 1938, and 1955, Saint Patrick's is consumed by fire in 1949, bandits rob Brink's at Bigelow, the Belmont Avenue boxing arena closes, as does Westfield Plate, Donald Crichton performs on Broadway, Hollywood, and television, Hallmark establishes itself on Central Street, the Crestliner Boat division opens and closes, Thomas P. Clifford is arrested for embezzlement, Anna Symonds pens a tell-all book, and JFK rides through town.

The Thompsonville-Suffield bridge is replaced, the Estelle Block burns, Bigelow leaves for the South, new malls siphon lifeblood away from the village, Paul Plath is murdered in Springfield, four teens are killed on Lincoln Street, X-rated films are shown at the former Strand Theater, and Enfield is crowned an All-American City all while town administrators request the state to designate Enfield as a 'Depressed Area'.

Finally, urban renewal comes to claim Thompsonville, successfully removing the heart and soul of the village, leaving it lifeless and listless.

That's quite a century.