Vintage photos show 1947 hoops team

TORRINGTON — Water Street gallery owner John Noelke bought the old Howard building on Main Street in April, and said he plans to incorporate it into the growing arts scene in downtown Torrington.

Since then, he’s met many people who have fond memories of shopping for shoes at Howard’s as children, who were excited to see the interior and share their stories. The store closed in the late 1990s.

Last week, Carmine and Michelle Matrascia brought some vintage photographs of a basketball team that Howard’s sponsored in the 1940s.

Carmine’s father, Patsy Matrascia was the team mnager. Among the players were Frank Beauty, Sam Ponzi, Ed Sullivan, Frank Barlock and Ed Krulicki, who are shown in a 1947 photo of the team.

Noelke is asking anyone with information about the team or with memorabilia from Howard’s to contact him at 860-738-9585 or email johnnoelke@aol.com.

He’s also looking for serious artists who want to be part of the city’s downtown movement. At his Water Street gallery, he holds a monthy SpeakEasy open mic event, as well as musical events and art shows.

“My clientele would be the person who’s looking for life, for whatever reason, through art,” he said. “That’s what a gallery is — it’s for people who need more than bread alone to live. I need strong, serious artists.”

Noelke hopes to have a storytelling night focused on Howard’s past, and will encourage people to share their memories. “Send the poets my way, the storytellers and the philsophers,” he said.