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Remembering the Gardellas

by Theresa Maruffi Fritz

          My father and mother were operators of the old Hopewell Store, located at the junction of Hopewell and Matson Hill Roads in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Besides being a store, it was the local hangout for the people of the neighborhood, and our family lived upstairs, so my brother John and I grew up in these surroundings.  In those days, very few people had cars, but the Gardellas always had a car, and many of us enjoyed a ride to many events, such as ball games in town or in Hartford at the old Buckley Stadium. They also drove the elderly or handicapped to church on Sundays on a regular basis. The whole family was faithful supporters of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church.

          When we moved to Hopewell in 1925, Robbie and Richie, the Gardella twins, were around ten years old.  They used to be the paper boys, delivering the papers by carrying the canvas  bag over their shoulders.  The family consisted of the father, Joe Gardella, who was a widower, and his children Jennie, Charlie, Rose, Mae,  Ann, George, Harold (Wiggie), Robbie, and Richie. The Hopewell neighborhood stretched from the Block to Smut, which is now Purtill Street, up Hopewell Road and to Fagnoni’s, and up Matson Hill Road to Foote Road.  It also  took in Yellow Hill, a few houses on the ridge behind the mill.  The Gardella  home adjoined the original Hopewell School on Hopewell Road.  Whenever we went out for recess, we could visit with them.  Mae was always there, and it made us feel comfortable.  She knew all the children and their parents.

          We always had a table in the store, and that is where my brother and I did much of our homework during our school years.  If I needed help with a book report or something in the English department, George assisted me.  He was so knowledgeable in that field, and words were always interesting, because George knew their origin.  When I needed help in bookkeeping, Richie would help me. They were always willing to sit down and work with us and were never in a hurry. My mother and Richie had long conversations about current events.  

          Recently, Richie and Wiggie passed away, and Robbie is still either at the home on Hopewell Road or in Florida.  He is the last of such a large, wonderful family.  We remember all of them with happy thoughts; but now, with some degree of sadness.

          When I moved back to Connecticut as an adult with my own family, we purchased the house west of and adjoining Gardella’s, which was constructed partly from lumber salvaged from the old Hopewell School, where my brother John and I had attended first through sixth grades.    Robbie was always interested in poultry, and at one time, after I was married , we raised capons with Robbie.  That was quite an experience!  Also, we had a pony for our two children and kept it in the Gardella’s barn and pasture.   

          I remember my brother met with Richie in London while both were serving during World War II.  When we visit Connecticut, we stop at the Gardellas and visit with whomever is there at the time and reminisce about the past.  The summer of 2001, we had a pleasant visit with Wiggie.  I remember Wiggie’s stories about playing golf in the snow, using a black ball.  He was an avid golfer! This very nearly closes a most pleasant chapter in my life.  

Theresa Maruffi Fritz  March 12, 2002.

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