Picture Enfield - Then And Now

ENFIELD, CT — Today's installment of this Enfield history series, courtesy of the Facebook group Picture Enfield, features a circa 1980 ad for the notorious Dial Tone Lounge in the Enfield Plaza on Route 5. The bar was founded in the early 1970s by Richard Camerlin, who went on to open 12 such establishments in southern New England.

Each table or booth at the Dial Tone had a phone with a large number on it, and patrons were encouraged to call someone at another table and ask them to dance. Those phone lines heard every possible rejection line known to man, the mildest of which was, "Buzz off, creep!"

At one time, the Dial Tone was among the hottest places to "see and be seen" in Enfield. Its popularity was such that fire officials once shut down the facility due to overcrowding.

The Enfield location closed somewhere around 1984. Dancing, however, remains at the site, as Ballroom Fever currently operates at 608 Enfield Street.

Here is a more contemporary look at the north end of the plaza, courtesy of Google Maps.

Last week's trivia answer:
Last week's question was, "The Enfield Twin Rinks, which changed ownership last week, opened for business in what year?" The answer: 1974, just in time for the 1974-75 winter season which saw Fermi High School post an 8-0 record in the CCIL; crosstown rival Enfield was somewhat less successful. In the photo below, courtesy of the Picture Enfield Facebook group, notice the boards behind the net were topped not with the plexiglass used today, but rather with lovely chain link fencing. Lynda Laporte was the first person to provide the correct answer, adding, "I remember ice skating every Friday night during junior high. Lots of great memories."

This week's trivia question:
What was the location of the first official 4th of July Town Celebration? Post the answer in the comments section below under your real name (we'll see who follows directions).