One of Stratford’s formerly famous annual festivals has largely disappeared from our collective memories. The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was a huge festival that occurred annually in the Avon Park section of Stratford. Avon Park, likewise, has all but disappeared from our collective memories.
Avon Park roughly encompassed the area from Stratford Avenue to South Avenue to Woodend Road to Benton Street to Honeyspot Road. Italian working families, those who could afford to purchase property in Stratford, left the exorbitantly high rents in Bridgeport to purchase a new home in Avon Park. The community began to grow after the trolley began running from Bridgeport, down Stratford Avenue, and eventually to Main Street.
Mrs. Angelo Stavola, wife of the former owner of Stavola’s Tavern (later Johnny’s Ribs), spearheaded the annual three-day Festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Stavolas paid for much of the festival’s costs, including ensuring children were properly attired for the three day festival. Any child lacking suitable clothing would be outfitted by Mrs. Stavola at her expense.
An elderly long-time resident of Avon Park shared the following recollection with us of the one-time largest annual event in Stratford. The Festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel featured the largest fireworks displays held in Stratford up to that time.
Festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
A yearly event in Avon Park was the Festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. A group of Italian immigrants decided to form a society in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 9, 1920.
The annual festivals began about 1918. They were a three day affair, held in the old Connecticut Company Trolley property which extended from Honeyspot Road to Surf Avenue.
On Friday night, a concert was given by one of the two participating bands: The Bridgeport Marine Band or the Columbus Band.
And, what would a festival be without food? The members of the Society sold tempting goodies in the booths along Honeyspot Road.
Sausage and Pepper Grinders Italian Ice Cream
Meatball Sandwiches Nougat Candy (Torrone)
Pizza Nuts on a String
Frittatas Anise Cookies
Lemon Ice Sesame Seed Cookies
Italian Lady Fingers
Honeyspot Road was decorated with arches of lights and flags from Stratford Avenue to Stavola’s Tavern.
On Saturday morning a parade, with the banner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, an American flag, and an Italian flag, marched throughout the streets of Avon Park. The young children would carry flowers or hold onto the ribbons attached to the banner. The girls were dressed in white with veils.
Then the parade marched to St. James Church, where a high mass was celebrated at 11:00 am. In the afternoon, the parade marched to Hollister Heights. The parade would stop at an Italian home or business for a donation to be pinned on the banner.
On Saturday evening there was another band concert just before the fireworks. On Sunday another concert was held.
Recently, we located a July 1918 issue of the Bridgeport Herald which contained an article featuring the Lady of Mount Carmel parade. We believe this article does justice to some to the memory of the July festival.
Bridgeport Herald
Sunday, July 21, 1918
Stratford Italians Observe Feast of Lady of Mt. Carmel as in Their Native Land
“What a magnificent banner, and what peculiar green fringe!” I exclaimed.
“That’s not fringe, that’s money—real bills, ones and twos and maybe tens,” said Mrs. Stavola. “You see, the faithful pin money on the banner as a sign of devotion.”
We were watching the Mount Carmel parade in Stratford on Tuesday—a sight well worth looking at. Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the especial patron saint of the Italians, and every year they have a celebration in her honor.
The parade started at Avon Park, marched along Honeyspot Road and Sedgewick Avenue to Main Street, and so to St. James’ church, where High Mass was celebrated.
This parade was a strange mixture of the “old Country” and the modern American spirit. First came two small boys dressed as an American sailor and soldier, then a girl carrying the American flag and one with the Italian flag. Then followed the Mount Carmel banner, hand painted and decorated with bills. Eight flower girls accompanied the banner, and the motive power of the parade—the band — followed them.
David Wright majored in Accounting and Data Processing, and over a twenty-nine year career held directorship-level positions in Information Technology (IT) for a number of major companies. He transferred to CT in 1987, and was Manager of IT for the Town of Stratford from 2004 to 2024, when he retired. He was appointed Town Historian in 2022. His extensive volunteer work has included Beardsley Zoo, the Board of Ed., and Stratford Historical Society, among many other organizations. He and Rona (Slater) Wright, his wife of 50 years, are parents of three sons, and grandparents of a grandson and granddaughter.
Would love to see a rebirth of the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Stratford.