Cindy Provencher December 25, 2008 08:27:05 (EDT)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! GOOD MORNING

Skip Dutton December 24, 2008 20:04:19 (EDT)

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

Santa Claus December 24, 2008 18:03:41 (EDT)

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year.

Kathy December 23, 2008 17:31:33 (EDT)

First I'd just like to say "welcome back on line" web master Steve. Glad you got your power back.
And, Bruce....I had the recipe for hug-a-lua and lost it. I think you should post it here for all to enjoy (again) I remeber those cold winter days and nights when you would drive by on the Daihatsu and toss that satchel to me YUM! Except for the time you put WHITE LIGHTNING in it. It took me about 10 minutes after that to resume normal breathing! AHHH memories!

Kathy December 23, 2008 17:24:14 (EDT)

....and YES the town of Hudson did get the bensons property back!!! now let's see what they do with it.

steve (webmaster) December 22, 2008 21:25:33 (EDT)

Here's another photo from Bret Bronson.

Bret writes: "Just found this photo that Kathy sent me a while back. Thought it might be an interesting one to post. I believe photo was taken in late spring of 1981. Shown is majority of full time zoo staff at the time and a few summer help. To many names to mention - some I am not sure of. Included are: Pat Quinn - Zoo Director (green shirt), Arthur Provencher (kneeling right), Al Conti DVM (far right) and many others."

bruce December 21, 2008 12:50:09 (EDT)

I messed up ,
sorry the pictures did not get posted,we have a big storm comming up here in Maine ;/waiting for my grandson to come and help me to figure this comp. out.A good reason to make a batch of Hug-a-lua!!, and have warm drink , and reminiscence,(always let it cool before bottling), some will understand.So did the town of Hudson realy get Bensons in there posseson? That would be agreat place for a reunion... I`ll be back hopefully with some pictures.

Kathy December 20, 2008 14:23:44 (EDT)

Here's another blast from the past. I had this song on a cassette and brought it into the park. Connie loved it so much that she played it everyday BEFORE the park opened to the public.
WARNING: Contains foul language........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SVmQMPaLMQ

bruce December 20, 2008 13:56:34 (EDT)

hi everyone,
Heres a few pictures to enjoy.

Bret December 19, 2008 21:40:15 (EDT)

I spoke by phone with Bruce today. Again, laughing about old Benson's stories, glory days, survival stories,..and many of the best people we've ever known. He also provided me with the correct name for his 'winter motivational drink' - 'Hug-a-lua'. The name and recipe even made it into a Bensons' news article for a local paper back in the day. Anyone that knows Bruce, will totally understand where the name came from.

Cindy Provencher December 19, 2008 14:21:14 (EDT)

Hi all, glad the sight is back up and running, Bruce, did you loose power? Bret how about you? Rachel, did it get bad up in your neck of the woods. Hey Bret, do you know where Harvey was living at the time he died?

Cindy Provencher December 19, 2008 14:08:41 (EDT)

Jamison

Jenny (Ellenwood) Conley December 19, 2008 12:17:26 (EDT)

Can anyone remember Harvey's last name?

Jenny (Ellenwood) Conley December 19, 2008 12:16:20 (EDT)

Can anyone remember Harvey's last name?

Cindy Provencher December 19, 2008 07:54:09 (EDT)

Den and I would like to wish all our friends and family a Happy Holidays, and hoping to see you all soon.

Bret December 19, 2008 07:24:57 (EDT)

As I dig deeper, hopefully more interesting photos to come. Most of which, I forgot I had. Here's some more memory makers - anyone that worked at Bensons' in the early 80's had to remember how great the park looked lit up for Christmas season - really nothing like it. Christmas snake photos???. Rachel - us walking into ER trying to explain how you REALLY got run over by a Reindeer on Christmas Eve?? "Kahlua Toddees"?? Feeding hoofstock by horse drawn wagon during blizzards....aahhh those are were fun days. Glad you made it out of the deep freeze (round 1) Steve, and got things back up and running. Happy Holidays Everyone!

Bruce December 18, 2008 20:55:08 (EDT)

Hi everyone, Bret thanks for sharing the photos,Wow jump start the memories with the holidays coming. Those were the good old days.Wish you all a merry christmas and a happy new year!!!

Steve (webmaster) December 18, 2008 16:48:33 (EDT)

We are back online after a week without power (or water or heat). Thanks for your patience.

Jay Knox December 18, 2008 15:49:21 (EDT)

Steve, glad to see that your up and running again. Hope you made it thru the mess up there okay.