The first official meeting of the Central Cycle Club took place on September 13, 1967 in this garage on Elmdale Road in Canterbury, thanks to Tom and Larry Laisi. Tom and Larry were both original charter members. The garage is still in the Laisi family today. Only a few meetings were held there, and the meeting s were moved to Fran’s Corner Store in Central Village
In 1972 or 73, the American Legion Post 91 in Moosup offered us the use of their upstairs meeting hall while we set about building our own facility. The Club had a close relationship with the Legion because it was their ambulance that attended our races. It was very gracious of the Legion to make that offer to let us share their meeting room with them. We used that facility for about two years and the Legion never charged the Club for its use.
The building in this picture is at the intersection of Route 12 and 14 in Central Village. Although many members pass by it on their way to the Club, most do not know it was a meeting location for several years. It was known then as Fran’s Corner Store, consisting of a small restaurant counter and a convenience store. It was owned by the Jernstrom’s, and Roland, who was a charter member, offered the upstairs as a meeting location. The Club met there until about 1972 or 73 until we lost access to the facility
Attached is a list of some expenses that I pulled from going over the first check register. Looks like prices have gone up a little.