| Oh MAN does this string make me feel ancient! :^)
I was born and raised in Middlebury about 2.5 miles from Quassy (on
North Benson Road) and have many many fond memories of that park. I
can actually remember far back enough to when *I* rode the Little
Dipper coaster (and the aerial "rockets" in the kiddie section!) I
know I logged a bunch of laps on the carousel and the train ride. And
I can still recall when every Tuesday during the summer was "Dime Day"
and ALL rides were 10 cents (*sigh*).....anyone remember the "Wild
Mouse" coaster they used to have? I was the first one in my family to
ride it and it used to FREAK me out when making the turns along the top
cause the wheels were in the middle of the car: each U-turn gave you
the feeling that you were DEFINITELY going to sail off into thin air,
when WHUMP! You'd abruptly yaw 180 degrees!
Around sixth grade or so (i.e. 1964) Quassy began offering rewards for
good report cards -- two ride tickets for every "A" and one for every
"B". Now THAT gave one an incentive to get good marks - it sure
motivated me! :^)
I can close my eyes today and the memory is SO clear...mom and dad in
the front seat of the '55 Pontiac, us kids in the back, driving up
Christian Road past Tranquillity Farms (on the Rt. 188 end)...the
maple and oak trees almost cover the road like a tunnel ... when
suddenly, a slight turn in the road gives you a tunnel-like look
at the park ... and the first thing you'd see is The Octopus ride,
whirling and twirling in the bright sunlight .... the end of the tunnel
draws closer until you reach the end of Christian Road, cross Rt. 6
and we drive under the arch into ... LAKE QUASSAPAUG PARK!!!
.... short pause here to wipe my eyes ....my God, I am almost forty
years older now, but my mental videotape of that place is still vivid
and clear. Alas, the Octopus is no more, but I think I'll drive up
Christian Road this spring with a camcorder....
Thanks for letting this boy-who-hasn't-grown-up ramble so...
--Eric--
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