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ECEllWE #1//7 / -/06
American Legion Post 28
ji APR 1 9 2006 , 63 Riverside Drive
-J Northampton, MA 01062
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DINO
April 17, 2006
Mr. Anthony Patillo
License Commission
City of Northampton
212 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Re: Conversation on Thursday, April 16, 2006 regarding operating a
restaurant open to the public
Dear Tony:
First of all I would like to thank you for the courtesy and professionalism shown by
you in consulting with us (Post 28) to head off a controversy that should not exist.
I personally believe that someone has a personal vendetta, if not against the club,
perhaps against Pat McGrath who runs and manages the restaurant.
After reading this synopsis on the history of this building, I suggest that you speak to
other city employees who have resided in the city 40 years or more to confirm the
following statements. Your assistant, Stan, would be a great start. Besides
frequenting the facility, I believe he had his wedding reception here.
Enclosed find copies of three licenses presently issued to the Post: CD
1) Common Victualer (liquor)
2) Annual Restaurant License
3) Food Service Establishment
If you check with the License Commission and Board of Health you will find these
licenses have been issued to us and our predecessors without lapse or restrictions
limiting us from serving the general public.
In the early 1900's German immigrants purchased this building using it to house and
school immigrants so they could fit in with American society.
In the early 1920's the hall was added to the building and the German American
Club was formed. The Club served lunches and dinners and also provided
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entertainment; follies were a popular draw. Open to the general public the hall also
hosted numerous weddings, receptions, birthday parties, bands and dancing.
After World War II from 1947 to approximately 1965 the kitchen was run and
managed by Henry Gulo serving lunches and dinners three nights a week; always
open to the general public. In addition to the meals served, they continued to offer
the hall for personal use such as weddings, banquets, private parties, etc.
In 1965 the entire operation was sold to Larry Decarlo and his wife who ran it until
1967. They called it The Villager and catered to the general public serving lunches,
dinners and the use of the hall for all occasions.
The present owners, American Legion Post 28, purchased the operation from the
Decarlos in 1967. The Post continued the food service operations for years, always
open to the general public.
From 1968 to 1977 the kitchen was run and managed by Howard Ouimet who mainly
did a dinner business three nights a week and also made the hall available to the
public to rent for various functions.
From 1977 to 1981 the operation was run by M & R Food Service (4 years). In 1981 to
1990 it was operated and managed by Bill McGrath. Upon his death his son, Bill, Jr.,
managed the food operation until 1997, always open to the public.
In 1999 the Board of Health demanded that the kitchen be updated installing a new
hood and a fire suppression system or lose their restaurant and food service
licenses. The club did comply.
From 1997 to 2004 the operation had been downsized — mainly renting the hall for
receptions, banquets, private parties and offered a catering service.
In 2004 when I was hired to manage and rebuild the building and the business, the
food service was all but eliminated. However, licenses were always maintained and
there were several hall rentals from time to time.
On October 1, 2005 arrangements were made with Pat McGrath, daughter of Bill
McGrath, to rekindle the food operation. The main difference between her
operation and previous operations covering the better part of the last 60 years is:
• Post operations did daily lunches and dinners 3 nights a week.
• Pat opens for breakfast seven days a week, serving lunches Monday through
Friday until 2:00 p.m. and is open for dinner one night a week, Fridays from 5 until 8
p.m.
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Whoever filed this complaint must be new to Northampton or just plain ignorant of
the history of the facility. Even today, when given the location of the American
Legion Post as the old German Hall most people know the exact location. Checking
with the Northampton Historical Society will probably also provide all the
confirmation you need.
Sincerely,
..1JLf---- '1‘? -
William Mazucl)/"
Manager
BOARD OF HEALTH 1 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Oft H A�0
413-587-1214 CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
MASSACHUSETTS 01060
ROSEMARIE KARPARIS,R.N.,M.P.H.,Chair
OFFICE OF THE •^ � joC
JAY FLEITMAN,M.D.
XANTHI M.SCRIMGEOUR,MHEd,CHES BOARD OF HEALTH
ERNEST J.MATHIEU,Health Agent I 212 MAIN STREET
Piot'
erb tte totabittibutent
Permit No. FSE-007 License Fee: $150.00
fin aaeozdanaa u7itI zE9u1ations. ,izomutyafrd undkz audacity of eiia fltEz
94, ..SEetion 3195dg and efiatater 111, &ation 5 of t�zE gEnEzd_'aws a
ET `t is Lt yzantEd : AMERICAN LEGION POST #28 HOME
American Legion Post #28 Home, Inc.
(WEL
os£ /faaz of times 63 Riverside Drive k,J.
Florence, MA 01062
Jyi2E Of GuainEss.: FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT
Jo o frEzatE a good c 'wieE E of Lif2MEnt in LIa"zfton, Sl/k4
BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS
Permit Expires: December 31, 2006
2006
LICENSE MUST BE POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE ON PREMISES.
COMMON VICTUALLER
2006 LICENSE
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
NO. 124-06 FEE : $35.00
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE LICENSE COMMISSION FOR THE
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON HAS GRANTED AND DOES HEREBY ISSUE
TO:
AMERICAN LEGION POST #28 HOME INC.
A license as a Common Victualler to be conducted at the premises located at
63 Riverside Drive, Florence, Massachusetts.
This license is granted in conformity with the statutes and ordinances relating
thereto and expires on the below date unless sooner suspended or revoked.
BY ORDER OF THE NORTHAMPTON LICENSE
COMMISSION:
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LICENSE TO EXPIRE :
December 31 , 2006
THIS LICENSE MUST BE POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE
OR.- t p'f MAMp�,
4.
4.
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^,c ,, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
z `' City of Northampton
2006 ANNUAL RESTAURANT LICENSE
NO. 44-06
For the sale of All Alcoholic Beverages to be drunk on the premises
This is to certify that the License Commission of the City of Northampton has panted and
does hereby issue a Restaurant License to sell expose and keep for sale, all kinds of Alcoholic
Beverages, to take effect January 1, 2006 and to expire December 31, 2006
To: AMERICAN LEGION POST #28 HOME, INC.
63 RIVERSIDE DRIVE
Manager: Brenda J. Coyle
on the premises described as follows:
Description: Three rooms on first floor with storage in the cellar.
This license is granted and accepted upon the express condition that the licensee shall, in all
respects, conform to all provisions of the Liquor Control Act, Chapter 138 of the General
Laws, as amended, and any rules and regulations made there under by the Licensing
authorities.
This license is issued on a conditional basis. Any issues identified by the Building Inspector
and or Fire Chief during the annual inspection process should be fully resolved within the time
parameters determined by these inspectors. Failure to remedy these life safety issues as outlined
above, upon application to the License Commission may result in modification, suspension or
revocation of this license.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto affixed their official signatures
this Seventh day of December 2005.
Hours of Service: Northampton License Commission
8:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Sundays 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Except by Special Permit
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THIS LICENSE EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2006