People/Business

Promenading and Dosey-dos-ing through History

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To say Ralph Sweet danced his way through UConn School of Engineering would falsify. But there were mornings when instructors could not wake him up because he had been out square dancing the night before. A 1946 freshman at UConn, Ralph Sweet joined the 4H Club because “…they featured square dance lessons after meetings, which I skipped…” Connecticut’s 4-H sponsored a state square dance festival with callers who submitted their calls in advance “…so kids could practice them before the festival which was held on the football field, all marked out in lime in 12 foot squares. All live music…” Ralph exulted, “…and all singing squares!”

“At public square dances no teaching was done… You just dove in and scrambled around until you ‘got it!’ Square dancing thrived but centuries- old contra dancing was becoming extinct in New England. Hearing about a small, private Connecticut contra group, Ralph learned contra calls and “…itching to call to live people…” he went to Ekonk, Connecticut: “… two chicken farms, two houses, and one Grange Hall…” and called for the group.

People/Business

New Sign Installed

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Up on his scaffold over the lower roof, Dave Adams, one of Suffield Village’s multi-talented construction and maintenance crew, attaches the V of the new sign on the south-facing gable over Highland Park Market.

People/Business

Broad Brook Brewery Work Resumes

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October 6 and 7, after many months of idleness at the construction site, excavation work was under way at the incomplete Broad Brook Brewery on South Street. Proprietor Eric Mance was there to consult with another contractor as the back hoe from Diversified Services, an Enfield company, did its work. CBYD markings had been placed a few days before, and several utilities had come in to flag their cables and pipes. By the end of the day, there was a big ditch along most of the east and north sides of the building, about seven feet deep and four feet across the bottom, tapering back up to grade level. With that, the soil pressure against the tall foundation walls was relieved, as required by the stop work order, removing any danger of collapse.

People/Business

Feather & Bloom

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Feather & Bloom has reopened at 122 Mountain Road. It is near Windsor Federal Savings and The Second Chance Shop. This is, perhaps, an opinion piece rather than a journalistic story because I found myself charmed by the environment and its products. I took a nosy walk-through last week, before the grand opening. The inviting space is filled with green plants, lots of cut flowers from nosegays to bouquets, framed floral photography, vases and “shabby chic” planters.