Picture South Windsor - Then And Now

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — The next installment of our periodic informal series highlighting businesses from South Windsor's past takes us to page 222 of the 1980 South Windsor High School yearbook, The Centurion. There we find an advertisement for the Podunk Mill Tavern, a longtime institution in town which is still thriving today, albeit under a different name for the past 36 years.

The Podunk Mill Tavern was located at 989 Ellington Road, or Route 30, in a building that dates to 1775. The ad promotes prime rib of beef and baked stuffed shrimp as specialties, daily happy hours and weekend dancing in the lounge.

Armand and Ginger Massari owned and operated the restaurant, with Ginger dubbed "Your Hostess" in the ad. We were unable to find out when Armand passed away, but Ginger died Aug. 5, 2008 at age 85.

A bit of confusion arises from viewing the ad, which clearly states "Open Sundays 12:30-7 p.m., Closed Sunday." Ummm, which was it?

In 1984, the restaurant became known as the Mill On the River, the name it retains today. It is one of the finest restaurants and banquet facilities in northern Connecticut. Here is a more contemporary look at the site, in a photo taken recently by yours truly.

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