Notable areas Willimantic, Connecticut

the old post office in 2017, hosts brewery


notable places

willimantic food co-op: willimantic home store front food cooperative in state. willimantic food co-op born of large buyers club , opened on main street in 1980. ten years later moved larger space few blocks away @ 27 meadow street, , store items moved via human chain of co-op members. after fifteen more years moved bigger location @ 91 valley street now. co-op hosts downtown country fair every autumn farmer s market, live music, food, crafts , children s activities.
willimantic footbridge: willimantic home of willimantic footbridge (established in 1907), footbridge in united states connect 2 state highways, crossing 3 major forms of transportation (road, rail, , river).
prospect hill historic district: 1 of largest national register-listed historic districts in state in terms of number of buildings, of has 993, remarkable 88% contribute overall historic architectural character.
thread city bread: willimantic had own local currency called thread city bread . currency valid tender @ number of local businesses.
thread city crossing ( frog bridge ): architecturally designed bridge, officially opened in june 2001. landmark adorned 8 foot high bronze frogs atop concrete thread spools, designed leo jensen. spools on bridge represent willimantic’s prominence in cotton thread , silk manufacturing. frogs represent legendary windham frog fight of 1754.
the garden on bridge: narrow stone arch bridge built in 1857 lyman jordan , nathaniel olin. in 1857 new stone arch cost $3,200 build , paid willimantic linen co. (willimantic thread) , 8 percent tax hike on town’s richest citizens. in 1907 townspeople wanted widen bridge, idea rejected in favor of planning new bridge. ninety years later thread city crossing bridge dedicated, resulting in october 22, 2006 dedication of windham garden on bridge. on june 2, 2007, windham garden on bridge dedicated virginia darrow, founding president of garden club of windham. gardens maintained volunteers of windham garden club , public works employees.
the connecticut eastern railroad museum located off bridge street in downtown willimantic, connecticut, on original site of columbia junction freight yard. collection includes locomotives , rolling stock, vintage railroad buildings , six-stall roundhouse reconstructed on original foundation.
the former post office holds willimantic brewing company, local pub.

notable events

willimantic boom box parade: willimantic has received national , international attention annual boom box parade. in 1986, local windham high school marching band having disbanded, local parade fan kathleen clark approached local radio station wili idea of people’s parade. offered collection of vintage marching music records radio station idea play these patriotic marches throughout duration of parade. parade goers encouraged bring boom box radios , tune 1400 am. parade hit, , unique notion of having no live music has drawn attention of cbs evening news , washington post, among others. parade grand marshal wili radio host , local celebrity wayne norman. parade participation equally important parade attendance, vast majority of parade participants being individual citizens or local citizens groups wish share creativity , national pride spectators. other cities madison, wi , lubbock, tx, newfane, ny , bullhead city, az, have had boom box parades, none have endured or been large willimantic s.
3rd thursday street fests: every third thursday may september, willimantic renaissance, inc. hosts on main street festival of musical, theatrical, visual , olfactory delights. 6 stages simultaneously host wide variety of music , entertainment audiences of ages. people sample authentic ethnic international cooking , local micro-brewed beer or soda. streets filled around 100 vendors , crafters, street performers , children s activities. 3rd thursday street fest community event, organized volunteers , no paid staff. event began in 2002 , draws 8,000 attendees.
victorian days in willimantic: produced willimantic victorian neighborhood association, first weekend in june , feature home tours, victorian teas, trolley tours, art shows, museums, concerts , special events.
romantic willimantic: willimantic celebrates valentine s day romantic willimantic . al saba proclaimed mr. romantic willimantic in 1981. each year since, local civic leader or citizen crowned willimantic’s cupid contributions city. romantic willimantic chocolate fest held on weekend of or following valentine s day, , features vaudeville show, chocolate chip stroll on historic main street, restaurants featuring chocolate foods (mole, martinis, pancakes, beer,etc.), , chocolate cake baking contest.




^ willimantic food co-op . willimantic food co-op. retrieved 2013-04-29. 
^ beth bruno (1998-08-06). insights: thread city bread . snet.net. archived original on 2007-02-06. retrieved 2007-06-08. 
^ department of transportation. department of transportation . ct.gov. archived original on october 15, 2012. retrieved 2013-04-29. 
^ bridge ornaments tell legend of windham frog fight . connecticuthistory.org. retrieved 2014-07-07. 
^ windham garden on bridge. garden club of windham. accessed april 29, 2013.
^ . garden club of windham. 2002-10-23. retrieved 2013-04-29. 
^ connecticut eastern railroad museum . cteastrrmuseum.org. retrieved 2013-04-29. 
^ ct restaurant & brew pub | willimantic brewing co. | . willimantic brewing company | main street café. retrieved 2017-02-27. 
^ wili boom box parade . wili-am.com. retrieved 2013-04-29. 
^ tim page (2000-06-05). no 76 trombones in parade . washington post. retrieved 2007-06-08. 
^ wili boom box parade . wili.com. retrieved 2007-06-08. 
^ third thursday street fest . willimanticstreetfest.com. retrieved 2013-04-29. 
^ willimantic renaissance . third thursday street fest. retrieved 2007-06-08. 
^ [1] archived may 9, 2010, @ wayback machine.