Old Enfield Photo Triggers Flood of Nostalgia

Tim Jensen

ENFIELD, CT — Thursday's latest installment of "Picture Enfield - Then and Now" drew a number of comments from Patch readers, some providing missing information about a car dealership and others offering insight into the history of the former Laurel House furniture building.

At the time of publication, I was unsure about the name of the Lincoln-Mercury dealership on the southeast corner of Elm and Enfield streets. Several readers said the business was called Gale Lincoln-Mercury.

  • "The Lincoln-Mercury dealership was Gale Lincoln-Mercury. My dad was a loyal customer!" - Mike Grieves

  • "My Dad bought a '50 Mercury from Gale at that location in '56." - Robert Steiger

  • "The car dealership was owned by my uncle, Joe Kupec. In the early '70s it changed over to “Gale Toyota,” and when I was little my uncle gave me a teddy bear called “Terry Toyota” that I loved very much." - Tracy (via email)

Most of the comments were shared memories of the Laurel House store.

  • "Bought furniture from Laurel House in 1969 that I still have!" - Patricia Reese Muir

  • "Used to live next door, got in trouble for picking flowers there when I was a kid." - Sharon Buika

  • "My great aunt and uncle (Theresa and Alex Bartley) used to live in this house. I think it was a duplex then. There was a Canada Dry distributor right next (and behind) it." - Lynn Ward

  • "I bought this little cranberry pitcher at Laurel House for my mom more than 30 years ago (maybe even 40) and now I have it ... if it could talk LOL" - Claudia Green Guay

A couple of readers got into greater detail about the history of the Laurel House property. One of them, Bill Squires, wrote:

  • "I remember it as the home of Harry and Mollie Squires, my grandparents, in front of the family soda bottling business, Newgate Ginger Ale and Florade Syrups, which was on 876 Enfield Street. In 1940, that also became the location for Esquire Gas Products Company until its move to Spring Street around 1962. Harry and Mollie had three children, all now deceased, Robert (my father), Bernice (Cohen) and Arnold. Around 1965, Mollie sold the property to Sam and Ann Filler, who owned Laurel House Furniture. Renovations changed the structure somewhat, but much of the exterior and interior of the house remained the same."

Another reader, Bill Friday, utilizing Patch's quick post feature, included an even older photo (below) along with this note:

  • "Interesting note - 878 Enfield Street (Laurel House): this house was built in 1828 and the original owner was Gilbert Allen. It was built in the Federal Style with brownstone foundation."

Not one reader identified the driver of the speeding truck making a sharp right onto Elm Street.

Cover photo courtesy of Picture Enfield

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