Remembering Our First Jobs at Erstwhile Local Commercial Establishments While at Warde

If you were like most students at Andrew Warde High School over 30 years ago, your first job was probably at a local establishment which no longer exists.

The commercial landscape in Fairfield has changed tremendously over the last couple of years, and many of the stores we remember fondly from our high school days are long gone.

My first job was at the former Jimmie's Restaurant on Black Rock Turnpike. By my junior year at Warde, I was working at least 25 hours a week, primarily Friday through Sunday. Some of my responsibilties included cutting potatoes, making french fries, freezing crabs, cleaning the storage room, and taking out the trash. I can remember it like yesterday.

Black Rock Turnpike, a host to virtual gridlock each weekday afternoon and Saturday morning, has always been the commercial hub for the Eastern/Warde side of town. Some other establishments which no longer exist include Bonanza, Dairy Queen, Gail's Stationers, Connecticut Bank and Trust, Howland's, Wetson's, Kuhn's Corner, Finast, and Leopold's.

A December 1974 publication of the Crimson Crier offered a photo shoot showing some of the Warde students at work. Interestingly, five of the six locations illustrated in the feature have been gone for years. They include Fair Mart, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Fairway, Friendly's, and Grand Union. Steve Schempp, pictured to the right just above, is stationed in Afghanistan today. He gained valuable working experience at Friendly's when he attended Warde over 30 years ago.

Dante Gallucci, pictured to the left, is an attorney in Fairfield and the president of Fairfield National Little League today. However, he began his "professional" career as a bagger at Fairway Beef on Black Rock Turnpike. Fairway was located where CVS stands today.

One of the more obscure stores on Black Rock Turnpike from the late 60s through the early 70s was Grand Union. The grocery store was located adjacent to Howland's and right across the street from Fairfield Woods Road.

Grand Union, which suffered stiff competition from First National and Fairway, closed its doors for good well over 30 years ago, but Ed Bintz, pictured to the right below, spent many a day stocking shelves there when he attended AWHS.

Where did you work when you attended Andrew Warde High School? Is the store still in business? What were some of your experiences when you worked while attending high school? How many of you went to school, played sports, joined after-school clubs, and then went to work?

I know many of today's Warde students who are busy with schoolwork, athletics, and jobs just about every day of the week. I see them working at Doughnut Inn, Shaws, and Lupe's Drug Store. Will those businesses still be around 30-plus years from now?

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".