STOP SIX: TORRINGTON (population 35,357) – The Conley Inn, 93 Main Street
High Roads and Low Roads (Tours)- Tour 5
- Get back onto Route 6 to Route 8 North
Travel Notes: Tour 5, which involved Route 8, ended up being a 2 to 3 lane 65 mile per hour highway, so I went 12.8 miles in 24 minutes. It was mostly a rural ride, with the mountains appearing to the north.
About Torrington in the 1930s
In the Guide Book, Torrington had a population of 26,040 people. It was also described as an industrial center, manufacturing products such as sewing machine needles, woolens, lathes, skates, electrical goods and hardware.
About the Conley Inn:
Conley Inn was built in 1891. It had 52 rooms and was done in the Victorian style. The pub was called the Yankee Pedlar and in 1956, someone else bought it and called it the Yankee Pedlar. It is said to be haunted. It has been abandoned for many years and Torrington is taking the owner to court and it wants receivership of the property. My grandfather also spoke about going to a “brook”. There are two potential “brooks” around there – the Naugatuck River or the East Branch of the Naugatuck River.
Notes from letter: February 26, 1930. Torrington Connecticut. Conley in.
Hi, I have just gotten in my dear at 7 PM after working like a dog all day long. Last night after completing your letter I went downstairs to mail it. What time do you think it was? One minute to eight and the train was leaving at eight. I made a beeline for the station and got there just as the train was beginning to pull out. I ran after it, and dropped it into the mail car as it was leaving the platform. I don’t believe I ever ran that fast in my life.
Last night after mailing your letter, I got back to the hotel and tried to read some, but I could not so I turned off my lights and fell asleep. I got up at about six as I could not sleep anymore. I got dressed and went out on a long walk. I stopped by a lovely brook and sat down on a rock and just fell into a trance. I sat that way for almost an hour, and as it was getting cold, I walked back and had breakfast then I started in for this town getting there at 8:30. I read your letter and went to work and I have told you that I just got in. I have not eaten as of yet so I am hungry but the mail leaves for Boston at 7:50 so I am going to get it in soon. The hail began, and as it would fall on my windshield, it would freeze quite unpleasant after the hail it began to snow, and it is still at it. I think that if it keeps up by tomorrow, it will be quite high. I don’t know what Gus Sillery has told the store keepers in this town but I seem to think that they believe I am a king or something of the sort for after trimming their window. They asked me to put in the other one and of course I could not refuse so I did them all. They asked me what I wanted to drink. The fellow I was in before had invited me out to lunch and paid for it; he would not allow me to do it. I believe I had at least five milkshakes, one frappe, two toasted cheese sandwiches, two chocolate cookies and coffee, cigarettes, and a few cigars. I really don’t know what to think. I put nine displays in and they were all pleased with them. Of course I won’t report them for that would be killing the job. I’ll report seven and let the others go. Some appreciate my work. It seems for Gus must have given them to believe that I would be a leader and I am far from that but I’ll just keep on plugging along. It won’t hurt anything and I have told you how Gus and I stand. If I don’t stop writing you may fall asleep on me and I have just a little time left. I have gotten on the scale today and it surprised me that what I weigh without my overcoat is not true. Tomorrow evening I will get back to Hartford and I’ll see you again as usual so take care of yourself.
Coffee Shop & Notes about Torrington: Crumbs by Toast & Company – really neat little place right by the river walk. I had a lavender lemonade. The former Conley Inn looks to be a beautiful building. I spoke to a local who said that the current owner owes a lot of taxes and the town is trying to take it. He said that this old mill town is being gentrified, the town helped renovate the old theater, which is named the Warner. The town is more suburban and would be a location where one could commute to Hartford. It is the largest town in Litchfield County. There was a beautiful riverwalk along the banks of the roaring Naugatuck River. I stayed there for 34 minutes
Waiting 