Picture Windsor Locks - Then And Now

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — Today's look back into the past is courtesy of Mel Montemerlo, a Windsor Locks resident until he went off to college in 1960. He is an avid student of town history, having written over 50 articles, and is currently retired and lives in Virginia.

In 1958, the first business in the then-brand new Dexter Plaza on Main Street was the D.F. LaRussa appliance store. Here is the full story, as told by Mel.

In 1947, Don LaRussa replaced his Western Auto store by opening the "D. F. LaRussa" appliance store at the corner of Oak and Main streets. Televisions were brand new at the time, and the phenomena of TV caught on quickly. Don's business did very well selling televisions and appliances.

Don was an excellent businessman. He knew how to get the public's attention. Shortly after opening his store, he came up with the idea of having Santa Claus fly into Windsor Locks by helicopter, and then having a parade take Santa to his store to distribute presents to the children.

LaRussa's business thrived at its location at the corner of Oak and Main streets, but Don wanted to expand his inventory and the types of items he carried. Always an innovator, his new location was the first store in the new Dexter Plaza (pictured in 1958).

Don was the first businessman to get involved with Dexter Plaza, which was the first shopping center in that entire area of the country. Shopping centers were a new thing in the United States, but would soon become a national phenomenon. But in the beginning, that was not obvious.

Don's store thrived in Dexter Plaza, but he didn't stop there. He took control of a large retail space next to him, subdivided the large area, and leased the smaller spaces to tenants which included Roth's Men's Wear, Connecticut Light and Power, Gicones Barber Shop, and Dr. Bacharach the dentist. This was a brilliant entrepreneurial move. It was not something that he learned from others. He was one of the first to do it.

Don LaRussa was a successful and visionary businessman and a civic-minded community leader. Unfortunately, Don died much too early, at the age of 49 in 1964.

To read more articles on the history of Windsor Locks, visit www.windsorlockshistory.com.

Here is a contemporary look at Dexter Plaza, taken by yours truly a few months ago.

Do you have a photo of an old Windsor Locks business which no longer exists, to which you own the copyright, and which we could feature in this column? Email tim.jensen@patch.com.