Legendary Locals of Middletown

Robert Hubbard, Kathleen Hubbard, Middlesex County Historical Society

• Publisher: Legendary Locals
• Year: 2014
• Edition: 0
• eBook ISBN:
  9781439642894
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

Although the town benefits from a position on a major navigable waterway, Middletown's success is primarily due to the energy, creativity, and diversity of its people. These include James Riley, whose autobiography detailing his trials as a white slave in Northern Africa showed millions of Americans the evils of slavery; Max Corvo, who helped the World War II Italian underground defeat the fascist regime; and Christie Ellen McLeod, longtime chief pathologist at Middlesex Memorial Hospital. Middletown can boast of athletes such as Helen 'Babe' Carlson, a tremendously strong competitor who participated on men's baseball teams; Willie Pep, who, while going for the world featherweight title, had a record of 134 wins and only one loss; and Corny Thompson, who sparked the University of Connecticut basketball program's rise to national prominence. More notables include Allie Wrubel, a prolific songwriter and Academy Award winner for his song 'Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah;' Vivian McRae Wesley, a teacher, reading director, and leader of Middletown's African American community; and Francesco Lentini, who was born with three legs and appeared in every major circus and carnival.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• CHAPTER ONE Business People
• CHAPTER TWO Athletes
• CHAPTER THREE The Arts
• CHAPTER FOUR Government Leaders and Educators
• CHAPTER FIVE Military Heroes
• CHAPTER SIX Unforgettable People
• Index