From "Honey Pot" to Cheshire Country Club

 

All About Cheshire, CT: From "Honey Pot" to Cheshire Country Club

 Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0

A Mid-Century Legacy: Research, Records, and "Suicide Alley"

The landscape at 290 Country Club Road today is one of quiet suburban charm, but for much of the 20th century, it was the thumping heart of Cheshire’s social and athletic life. This wasn’t just a place to swing a club; it was a theater of local history where land-holding dynasties met post-war ambition.

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The Pre-Game: A Tale of Two Clubs (1917 vs. 1929)

True history buffs know that "Cheshire Country Club" actually appeared in town records twice. Before the Honey Pot era, a separate venture was launched in July 1917 by Johnson L. Haile. Located near the New Haven-Waterbury trolley line (Route 70), it was a pioneering African American country club—one of the first in the nation—attracting members from as far as Washington, D.C.

However, the "Honey Pot" lineage we recognize today officially began on September 30, 1929. Just weeks before the Great Depression began, seven investors filed a certificate of incorporation for the Honey Pot Country Club, Inc. with a capital stock of $50,000. On October 7, 1929, they secured a five-year lease for 35 acres of prime rolling terrain from George E. Atwater.

The Atwater Corridor and the Red Clubhouse

The land was part of the massive Atwater Foundation, a lineage dating back to the 17th-century New Haven Colony. The family was so entrenched that the two-mile stretch toward New Haven was colloquially dubbed the "Atwater Corridor." While Mary Lyman Atwater was busy founding Rosemary Hall (now Choate Rosemary Hall) on the family’s Wallingford homestead, George E. Atwater was transforming his Cheshire pasturage—formerly used as a livestock "depot"—into fairways.

In the spring of 1930, the club purchased an adjacent 1790s-era Federal-style house to serve as the clubhouse. Painted a deep, defiant red and guarded by two stone lions, it became the site of legendary gatherings. The most notable was the Memorial Day opening of 1935, where 175 members and guests danced the night away before a handicap tournament the following morning.

Post-War Boom: The $40,000 Hand-off

The course entered its professional "Golden Era" following World War II:

• 1947: Willard Atwater, a descendant of the original landowners, was hired as the club
  professional. He is credited with bringing the neglected greens into "tip-top condition."

• 1950: The facility was sold to Fred DeLeon and Albert Victor for the then-princely sum of $40,000, covering the clubhouse and all facilities.

• 1951 (The Match of the Century): Over 150 fans gathered to watch Jimmy Nichols, the world-famous "one-armed pro." Nichols put on a clinic and played an 18-hole match. Teaming with Cable Starlings (the Cheshire Academy athletics coach), Nichols decisively defeated club pro Howard Peck and Waterbury amateur Stephen O’Brien.

1959: The Jaycee Tournament and "Suicide Alley"

By the late 50s, the course was officially the Cheshire Country Club. In 1959, it hosted the prestigious Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament. The young players, including local standout Ron Butler, had to contend with the course’s most terrifying feature: "Suicide Alley."

This was a logistical nightmare where the 3rd, 4th, and 5th holes shared a single, narrow corridor of fairway. Navigating "The Alley" required golfers to shout warnings and duck for cover as Titleist's flew in three different directions simultaneously. It was less of a golf hole and more of a tactical maneuver, making Ron Butler’s 1959 victory a feat of both skill and survival.

Deep Dive: The 1929 Founders and the Atwater Lineage

The creation of the Honey Pot Country Club wasn't just a business venture; it was a convergence of Cheshire’s oldest agrarian families and the rising professional class of the late 1920s. While the "Red Clubhouse" is the visible monument, the names behind the incorporation papers reveal the true engine of this mid-century legacy.

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The Incorporators: September 30, 1929

When the certificate of incorporation was filed just weeks before the Great Depression, it carried a capital stock of $50,000. The original board was a "who’s who" of local influence, tasked with turning 35 acres of

George E. Atwater’s pasture into a 9-hole destination.

While the full list of directors evolved over the 1930s, the primary figures involved in the club's early governance and the Atwater lease included:

• George E. Atwater (The Landowner): The silent partner of the operation. A direct descendant of David Atwater (one of the original 1638 New Haven planters), George represented the 10th generation of Atwater's in the region. His decision to lease the "Town Farm Road" parcel was a pivot from the family's 200-year history of livestock "depots" to modern recreation.

• The Board of Directors (Circa 1929-1935): In the early years, the club operated on a "membership-run" model. Before professional managers like Willard Atwater (hired in 1947) or Howard Peck took over, the following names were central to the club’s administration:

  • The Atwater Presence: Beyond George, the family’s reach was immense. Major Lyman Atwater had previously built the section of the Farmington Canal through Cheshire, and his descendants, including Mary Lyman Atwater (who founded Rosemary Hall), maintained a standard of civic leadership that the club board sought to emulate.

  • The Pro-Shop Shift: While the board initially handled the "business" of the greens, the post-war era saw a shift. By the time Fred DeLeon and Albert Victor purchased the club for $40,000 in 1950, the governance moved from a family-lease model to a private enterprise.

Historical Timeline: Names and Dates to Know

Date	Person / Event	Detail
Oct 7, 1929	George E. Atwater	Formally signs the 5-year lease for the first 35 acres on Town Farm Rd.
May 30, 1935	175 Members	The "Red Clubhouse" officially opens with a Memorial Day dance and tournament.
1940	Board of Directors	Officially drops the "Honey Pot" name in favor of Cheshire Country Club.
1947	Willard Atwater	Takes the reins as the resident Pro, marking the last major Atwater family role in club operations.
1951	Cable Starlings	The Cheshire Academy coach who famously teamed with one-armed pro Jimmy Nichols to win the exhibition match.
1959	Ron Butler	Wins the Jaycee Junior Tournament, navigating the "Suicide Alley" crossfire (Holes 3, 4, and 5).
1972	Closing Day	The final rounds are played before the land is sold for the Ives Hill development.

The "Atwater Corridor" Context

To understand why this board was so significant, one must look at the geography. The Atwater family’s holdings were so vast that a two-mile stretch of State Street (then Fleet Street) was historically known as the "Atwater Corridor." Every house was an Atwater house. By placing the country club at 290 Country Club Road, the board was essentially creating a social anchor for this "family empire."

The 1790s Federal-style clubhouse itself was more than just a place for "post-game cocktails." It was a bridge between the 18th-century agricultural elite and the 20th-century suburbanites. Even after the sale to DeLeon and Victor in 1950, the "Red Clubhouse" remained the soul of the club until its closure in 1972.

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History Buff's Tip: If you're looking for the original 1929 ledger, many of these local family records are preserved within the Cheshire Historical Society. The transition from "Town Farm Road" to "Country Club Road" remains the most permanent mark the original board left on the town map.

The Sunset: 1972 and the Ives Hill Transition

As Cheshire’s population grew—surging from 6,295 in 1950 to over 19,000 by the early 70s—the demand for housing outweighed the need for a nine-hole "hazard."

• 1972: The final official rounds were played, and the course ceased operations.

• 1974: Construction began on the Ives Hill Condominiums.

The developers cleverly retained the natural contours of the course. Today, residents at Ives Hill Court live on the very slopes where Willard Atwater once paced. The red clubhouse at 290 Country Club Road survives as a private home, though its famous stone lions have long since retired from guard duty.

The Modern Legacy: Honeypot Redux

While the original "Honey Pot" name was officially retired from the professional scorecard in 1940, it never left the local lexicon. Today, the spirit of those shared 1950s fairways lives on just a short distance away at Cheshire Park.

The park is home to the Honeypot Disc Golf Course, a premier destination that pays direct homage to the 1929 original. While the tools of the game have evolved from forged irons to high-speed plastic discs, the appreciation for Cheshire’s unique, rolling topography remains exactly the same. The "Honey Pot" remains a symbol of Cheshire's ability to preserve its history while adapting to the recreation of the modern day.

Cheshire Town Players to Host “Festival of the Arts” Showcasing Local Talent

 Cheshire Town Players to Host “Festival of the Arts” Showcasing Local Talent

CHESHIRE, Conn. (April 2026) — The Cheshire Town Players (CTP) will present a two-night Festival of the Arts on April 23 and 24, offering residents an opportunity to experience a wide range of performances by local artists.

The event will be held at The Reading Room, 134 Elm St., in Cheshire, with doors opening at 6 p.m. each evening. Admission is $25. Food and beverages will be available for purchase through Avanti Grille.

The festival will feature an interdisciplinary lineup including theater, music, poetry, dance and visual arts, reflecting the organization’s mission to provide accessible creative opportunities for community members of all ages and experience levels.

“This is exactly what we envisioned when we started,” said founder Lynne Gannon. “A place where people can come together, share their talents, and support one another in a welcoming, low-pressure environment.”

Founded in late 2024, CTP is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven theater group created to reestablish a local performing arts presence following the closure of a previous Cheshire-based company in 2022. The organization operates under the Connecticut Community Empowerment Federation (CCEF), which focuses on inclusive programming and community engagement initiatives.

CTP’s home venue, The Reading Room, is located above ReRead Books & More, a nonprofit bookstore also operated by CCEF that provides job training and independent living opportunities for individuals with special needs.

In addition to seasonal showcases like the Festival of the Arts, the group hosts cabaret-style performances and interactive “10-minute play” nights, where participants are assigned roles and perform short works with minimal rehearsal time.

“We want people to feel like they can just walk in and be part of something,” Gannon said. “Whether you’ve been on stage for years or never at all, there’s a place for you here.”

As a community-based organization, CTP relies on local volunteers for all aspects of production, including acting, directing, stage management and technical support. Auditions and participation opportunities are announced on a rolling basis.

At this time, no mainstage auditions are scheduled for Spring 2026; however, additional events and casting calls are expected to be announced in the coming months.

Event Details:

What: Festival of the Arts

When: April 23–24, 2026

Time: Doors open at 6 p.m.

Where: The Reading Room, 134 Elm St., Cheshire

Admission: $25

For more information, visit the Cheshire Town Players website, follow the group on Facebook, or contact cheshiretownplayers@gmail.com

Memories of the Cheshire Town Farm A Talk by Barbara Buckland

 Memories of the Cheshire Town Farm

A Talk by Barbara Buckland 

Before the evening’s program began, many in attendance had the chance to see a remarkable artifact displayed in the exhibit room: the original board from Town Farm Wagon No. 4. That simple wooden board sparked the evening’s presentation and reopened a chapter of Cheshire history that might otherwise have faded from memory.

Last year, Barbara decided the Cheshire Historical Society might be interested in preserving the wagon board her father had kept for decades. When she and her husband sold the family home in 2001, she could not part with it. Instead, she entrusted it to her friend Sally Blakely, a Historical Society member, who delivered it to the Society. One conversation led to another, and before long, Barbara agreed to return from Branford to share her memories of the Cheshire Town Farm.

Barbara is the daughter of Wilbur Buckland, who managed the Town Farm from 1929 until the town discontinued its operation in 1938. The Buckland's later purchased the property. A Cheshire native, Barbara grew up on the farm and later raised her own family there. An active member of the DAR during her years in town, she used her genealogical and research skills to explore the deeper history of the farm she once called home.

The Early Years of the Poor Farm

The concept of a town poor farm dates back to the earliest days of settlement in Connecticut. By 1640, Hartford had established a poorhouse along the Connecticut River. Each town eventually maintained a place where those without means could live and, if able, contribute light labor.

In 1850, Hannah Brown sold property on what is now Country Club Road to the town for use as a poorhouse. An additional 15 acres across the street—today near Scenic Court—were maintained as woodland to supply firewood. The property was heated entirely by stoves.

The farmhouse across the road had belonged to William Brown. A right-of-way allowed access to the wooded acreage behind it, which was also near orchards associated with Bishop’s Farm.

In 1900, town records show that a new house was constructed on the property. The original house, which stood to the right as one entered the driveway, was moved to the rear. Notably, the 1900 house had no fireplaces. When Barbara’s family lived there, it had no central heat and no insulation. The home was warmed by a stove in the basement, two on the first floor, and one upstairs. “Why it never burned,” she recalled, “I’ll never know.”

There was an icehouse in the backyard, stocked each winter with ice cut from a pond that no longer exists. Nearby stood a large woodshed.

The “Tramp House”

One of the more intriguing features of the farm was the so-called “tramp house.” This small structure had a dirt floor, a stove in the center, and bunk beds along three walls. The beds were built into the walls themselves. Three windows were fitted with bars—though, as Barbara noted, she did not believe her father ever locked the door at night.

Travelers, often called “tramps” at the time, could receive permission to stay overnight by obtaining a pass from the First Selectman, Birdsey Norton, whose home was on Academy Road (now Norton Brothers Farm).

Though they were not officially supposed to be given food, Barbara’s mother—known for her generous spirit and excellent cooking—often gave them bread, doughnuts, or pastries. These itinerant men followed established routes and left markings near properties indicating what kind of reception they might expect: “vicious dog,” “mean housewife,” or, perhaps most welcome of all, “good food.”

The numbers tell the story of the Depression years. In 1930, 148 transients stayed at the farm. In 1932, that number rose to 395. The peak year was 1933, with 471 men seeking shelter. By the mid-1930s, the numbers had dropped to the low 300s or high 200s.

Though they were offered food, they did not dine inside the house. Instead, many sat in the woodshed on a chopping block while Barbara’s mother brought them meals. Cheshire was not a bustling metropolis in those days, but the Buckland's’ gardens and fruit trees made them largely self-sufficient—and generous.

Life Inside the House

The farmhouse was arranged to separate the town residents from the Buckland family. Two front doorways served different purposes: the left led upstairs to rooms used by town residents, while the right opened into the kitchen. Additional rooms upstairs were partitioned to house several individuals at a time.

The average stay varied. Some residents lived there for years; others stayed only months. Barbara remembered one woman who worked in the kitchen and lived there for much of her life.

There were no modern conveniences—no washing machines, no central heat until 1944. Laundry was done by hand, and winters were bitterly cold.

Wilbur Buckland and the Town Roads

Before managing the Town Farm, Wilbur Buckland worked in the dairy at Gaylord, then a tuberculosis sanitarium in Wallingford. During difficult economic times, he left briefly to sell medical equipment, but returned when sales proved scarce. He soon learned that Cheshire needed a manager for the Town Farm—someone who would also oversee the town roads.

Hired by Frank Rice, whose home later became the Slater Funeral Home, Wilbur moved his family to the farm in December 1929. Barbara was born in 1931.

Maintaining the roads was entirely manual labor. Roads were dirt or gravel, not paved. Sand was shoveled by hand. Tar was applied just before the school year began—much to Barbara’s mother’s dismay, as it inevitably ruined school clothes.

The End of the Poor Farm

The introduction of Social Security in 1936 marked the beginning of the end for many town farms. That March, at a town meeting led by Selectmen Birdsey Norton, Huxley, and Murphy, Cheshire voted to close the farm.

Wilbur Buckland was given first choice to purchase the property. The transition took until 1938, as the town needed time to sell off equipment and relocate remaining residents.

The farm once extended along West Road and included what is now Legion Field. When the Buckland's purchased the property, approximately eight to ten acres were set aside for the field.

A Tourist Home and Rotary Beginnings

After the town farm closed, the Buckland's moved into the rear house. The former dining area for town residents became their kitchen. In 1939, they opened a “tourist home”—essentially an early bed-and-breakfast. A large sign near Route 10 and Country Club Road directed visitors to the property.

Barbara’s mother served three meals a day, not just breakfast. Guests often stayed a week at a time. In 1944, the house was finally outfitted with central heat.

The Cheshire Rotary Club was organized at a dinner meeting held at the farm. The meal—home-style and plentiful—cost one dollar, with a ten-cent tip. The arrangement lasted only four months, as the growing attendance became too much for the family to manage.

Later Years

The property was sold in 1986, though the Buckland's retained four acres and the buildings. In 2001, it was sold again. The builder added land to expand Legion Field.

Barbara also recalled childhood memories of donkey baseball games held on the field and of walking or catching rides into town to attend school, as there was no bus service to the farm in her early years. Students traveled to either Waterbury or New Haven for high school.

In the attic of one of the buildings, the family once discovered a ball and chain and a straitjacket—relics of another era. As children, they had played with them, unaware of their somber implications.

A Living History 

Today, the former Town Farm property has been beautifully restored by subsequent owners, a far cry from its days as a working poor farm. Yet through Barbara’s vivid memories—of cold winters, generous meals, gravel roads, and wandering travelers—the spirit of the old farm endures.

What began with a weathered wagon board became a window into Cheshire’s past: a reminder of how communities once cared for their own, how hard times shaped local life, and how one family’s stewardship preserved an important chapter of town history.

The Cheshire Connecticut Poor Farm

 

1640–1899: Early Foundations and the Brown Family

 Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0

The establishment of municipal support systems for residents without financial means began in Connecticut as early as 1640, when Hartford created a poorhouse near the Connecticut River. In Cheshire, this practice was formalized in 1850 when Hannah Brown sold her property on Country Club Road to the town for use as a poorhouse.

The town also maintained 15 acres of woodland across the street, located near what is now Scenic Court, to provide firewood for the facility. During this period, the farmhouse across the road belonged to William Brown, and a right-of-way provided access to the wooded acreage located near the orchards of Bishop’s Farm.

1900–1928: Construction and Physical Layout

In 1900, the town constructed a new house on the property. The original structure, which was situated to the right of the driveway entrance, was moved to the rear of the site. The 1900 house was built without fireplaces and lacked central heating and insulation. It was warmed by four stoves: one in the basement, two on the first floor, and one on the second floor.

The grounds included an icehouse, which was filled annually with ice harvested from a local pond that has since been removed, and a large woodshed. A separate structure, known as the “tramp house,” was built with a dirt floor, a central stove, and bunk beds built into the walls. While the windows were fitted with iron bars, the door was generally left unlocked.

1929–1935: The Buckland Management and the Great Depression

In December 1929, Frank Rice—whose home later became the Slater Funeral Home—hired Wilbur
Buckland to manage the Town Farm and oversee Cheshire’s road maintenance. Wilbur Buckland had previously worked in the dairy at the Gaylord sanitarium in Wallingford. He moved his family to the farm in late 1929, and his daughter, Barbara Buckland Busk, was born there in 1931.

During this era, Wilbur Buckland managed the town’s dirt and gravel roads using manual labor. Maintenance involved hand-shoveling sand and applying tar, a process that typically occurred just before the start of the school year.

The Town Farm served two populations: permanent town residents and transients.

• Town Residents: These individuals lived in the main house, which was partitioned to separate them from the Buckland family. The left front door led to the upstairs resident quarters, while the right door opened into the family kitchen.

• Transients: Often referred to as “tramps,” these men followed established routes through the region. To stay overnight, they were required to obtain a pass from First Selectman Birdsey Norton, who resided on Academy Road (the current site of Norton Brothers Farm).

Data from the 1930s illustrates the impact of the Great Depression on the facility:

• 1930: 148 transients

• 1932: 395 transients

• 1933: 471 transients (peak year)

• Mid-1930s: Numbers declined to between 200 and 300 annually.

Transients were provided meals but were not permitted to eat inside the main house; they typically ate in the woodshed. The farm remained largely self-sufficient due to its gardens and fruit trees.

1936–1944: Closure and Conversion to a Tourist Home

The implementation of Social Security in 1936 reduced the demand for municipal poor farms. In March 1936, a town meeting led by Selectmen Birdsey Norton, Huxley, and Murphy resulted in a vote to close the facility. The town spent the following two years selling equipment and relocating the remaining residents.

In 1938, Wilbur Buckland exercised his right of first refusal and purchased the property. The farm originally included land that extended along West Road and encompassed the current Legion Field; eight to ten acres were designated for the field at the time of purchase.

The Buckland family moved into the rear house and, in 1939, opened a “tourist home” or bed-and-breakfast. A sign was placed at the intersection of Route 10 and Country Club Road to attract visitors. In the early 1940s, the Cheshire Rotary Club was organized during dinner meetings held at the farm. In 1944, the house was updated with the installation of central heating.

1986–Present: Preservation and Historical Record

The Buckland family sold the majority of the property in 1986 but retained four acres and the primary buildings. The remaining portion was sold in 2001 to a builder who expanded the acreage of Legion Field. During the family's tenure, historical artifacts were discovered on-site, including a ball and chain and a straitjacket.

In 2001, Barbara Buckland Busk moved to Branford and entrusted a specific artifact—the original board from Town Farm Wagon No. 4—to her friend and Historical Society member Sally Blakely. The board was subsequently donated to the Cheshire Historical Society. This artifact, along with Barbara’s records and genealogical research, serves as the primary documentation for the site’s history as a center for town-managed social support.

Donald R. Gode: A Life of Service, Skill, and Community

 Donald R. Gode: A Life of Service, Skill, and Community

 Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0

Donald R. Gode was born on January 6, 1922, in Waterbury, Connecticut, to John and Olive (Cole) Gode.

Local newspaper records reflect the family’s early involvement in community and church life.

The Journal, September 29, 1931, noted:

“The Junior Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist Church will meet today at the home of Mrs. John Gode on Mitchell Avenue.”

In 1932, The Journal reported that Mrs. Christopher Platt was ill at her home and that Mrs. John Gode was caring for her, further demonstrating the Gode family’s role in local civic life.

Donald grew up swimming and playing ice hockey at Weeks Pond with his friends, the Tier children. Their mother, Nancy Hopkins Tier, was a nationally known female aviator of the 1930s and a close friend of Amelia Earhart. Donald later recalled watching aircraft land in a mowed field near their home—land that would eventually become the site of Highland School.

Both Donald and his father, John Gode, worked as electricians. Prior to World War II, Donald was
employed as an electrician’s helper at the Chandler Evans Corporation in Meriden. In 1943, he graduated as a sergeant from Aerial Gunner School at Fort Myers, Florida. He was later assigned to the 15th Army Air Force in Italy, where he successfully completed 50 combat missions as a tail gunner aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress.

Donald often said that the most memorable moment of his service occurred during a mission to evacuate American aircrew members who had been held captive in Romania. For his wartime service, Sergeant Gode was awarded the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon.

Military service would continue through the next generation. Donald’s two sons also served in the armed forces. Donald David Gode enlisted in the U.S. Army and later reenlisted in 1974, serving as a recovery specialist. In 1970, Peter A. Gode was promoted to Army Specialist Five while serving in Vietnam as a crane operator with Company D, 36th Engineer Battalion.

In 1947, The Journal announced the engagement and upcoming wedding of Miss Judith May Buechele, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Buechele of East Haven, to Donald Richard Gode, son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Gode of Mitchell Avenue.

Donald was employed as an electrician at Pratt & Whitney from 1956 until his retirement in 1984.

Following his return to civilian life, Donald’s passion for sports flourished. In 1947, he played in the first game of the newly organized Cheshire Hockey Club, watched by approximately 200 spectators, as the team tied the American Legion hockey team of Ansonia, 3–3. He was also deeply devoted to softball, playing for Carrington’s and later the Green Dolphin team.

William Dolan, former manager of the Green Dolphin team, recalled:

“I would like to say that Don Gode was the best softball pitcher ever in Cheshire. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he was unbelievable. He pitched for the Green Dolphin team and lost only two games in five years—and those losses were due to errors. This was a fast-pitch league, and there was even a team from the Cheshire Reformatory, as it was called then. If there is ever a Cheshire Softball Hall of Fame, Don is on top.”

Donald was also a member of the Cheshire Volunteer Fire Department. In 1955, he determined that a $20,000 fire at the Grange Hall had been caused by a penny lodged in a fuse box. He later received commendation for his actions during the Horton Hall fire at Cheshire Academy.

His wife, Judith May (Buechele) Gode, was likewise active in community affairs. In 1961, she
participated in the Mothers’ March, a month-long fundraising campaign for the National Foundation for Polio, Crippling Diseases, and Birth Defects. She was also an active member of the Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.

The Gode Family and the Cheshire Fire Department

Donald’s father, John Gode, was a charter member of the Cheshire Fire Department. Donald himself became a life member, continuing the family’s legacy of service. His son, Peter Gode, was also a member until his death, and Peter’s son, Andrew, later served as a firefighter near his home in Leesburg, Virginia.

Ken Gode was a long-standing member of the Prospect Fire Department before retirement and is still a Apparatus Mechanic for the Danbury Fire Department, where he maintains fire apparatus and equipment.

Another member of the extended Gode family with a documented role in the department was Patricia “Pat” Gode. A longtime Cheshire resident, she served as an Administrative Assistant for the Cheshire Fire Department until her retirement in 2011. 

Peter Gode Jr was also a devoted life member of the Cheshire Volunteer Fire Department, where he served in leadership roles including lieutenant, captain, and assistant chief. His service, like that of his father Donald R. Gode, reflects a family legacy of dedication to public safety. According to department records and local history, life membership represents decades of service, training, emergency response, and community engagement.

Beyond his formal service, Don enjoyed time with friends at the firehouse, gatherings at the Notch Store, breakfasts with his World War II buddies at McDonald’s, and conversations with neighbors along Moss Farms Road.

One account captures a typical moment:

“One of the regulars, Don Gode, walked in for his daily Notch sandwich; the old wooden floors creaked as he entered. He called out a greeting and received one in return.”

At age 66, Gode reflected on the store’s history:

“This place has been here since I was a kid. We both came along together.”

“You come down here, you hang out, meet friends,” Gode said, stepping outside near the Notch’s wooden bench. “You ought to come down here Sunday mornings. It’s like a town forum.”

As passing cars honked in greeting, his expression darkened when the subject turned to the proposed convenience store nearby.

“They’ve got the power behind them, they’ve got the money,” he said. “That doesn’t make it right.”

“They always say money will buy anything. But this place has been here since day one. So who’s got the priority?”