[Riddler Wright]

So far haven't heard great reviews. One person told me it's a big drug town mainly heroine.

[MikefromCT]

You've heard correctly. Recreational drug use IS a big problem there, has been for years. Other than attending ECSU or visiting Willimantic Brew Pub in the downtown area, there's no reason to go there. It's just a dumpy town overall with few points of interest other than what was mentioned above.

[SunFlower33]

It's dreadful. It's the absolute arm-pit of Connecticut and there's just no good reason to live there other than drugs.

[howdydoody342]

There isnt a closer location to purchase Heroin OP?

[smackfu]

I had never heard of a city being demoted to a village before I heard about Willamantic.

[JayCT]

Willimantic is an old mill town/city that has seen better days. Most of its major industry left and because of its remote location, it never really recovered from the loss. In 2003 Willimantic was featured in a 60 Minutes feature calling it the Heroin Capitol of the country which is kind of strange given it is such a small and removed city. The city has tried to break that connection but just can't seem to do it. A lot has been done to help improve the city. The old mills have been converted to artist lofts and there are a couple of good restaurants and bars there including the Willimantic Brewing Company. Willimantic is close to UConn and has Eastern Connecticut State University there so it has some potential. It remains to be seen if it can be improved enough to shake that old image. Jay

[RunD1987]

Use to be the heroin capital of the USA. Surrounding town's are decent. Willimantic is trying to make an effort to revitalize it's image offers decent apartments by the mill. Also it is near two colleges in CT. It also has a strong Hispanic culture as well.

[Quiettimect]

I can remember a fine fall Sunday morning back in 2002. I woke up in my quiet Willimantic neighborhood, put the coffee on and went outside to get the paper. Looking down at the Hartford Courant resting on the top step of my porch was an emblazing headline which shouted "HEROIN TOWN". I thought to myself lord where could this unholy hellhole exist? I have the duty as a human being to warn others!

Well you can imagine my terror when the article revealed I was living at ground zero, and had been in the thick of it for the preceding 12 years.

It is true that Willimantic has a population that are addicted to drugs. It is true that sections of town have seen better days. It is true that a good deal of poverty exists in town. There any number of places in Connecticut with problems far, far more serious then the Thread City. I still shake my head when I think of that Courant article and Dan Rather's Sixty Minutes reporting. You would think a school of journalism would use those two reports as examples of dishonesty in reporting. The Courant I can understand but Sixty Minutes?

What is not true is that Willimantic is a dangerous place, that you will get robbed, or be treated rudely by anyone in town.

IMHO you have to be a bit quirky to enjoy living in Willimantic.

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by Quiettimect

I can remember a fine fall Sunday morning back in 2002. I woke up in my quiet Willimantic neighborhood, put the coffee on and went outside to get the paper. Looking down at the Hartford Courant resting on the top step of my porch was an emblazing headline which shouted "HEROIN TOWN". I thought to myself lord where could this unholy hellhole exist? I have the duty as a human being to warn others!

Well you can imagine my terror when the article revealed I was living at ground zero, and had been in the thick of it for the preceding 12 years.

I remember that Hartford Courant article too. Don't remember the 60 minutes spot, but I think I saw it at some point.

What is sad is 13 years have passed and not a single thing has been done about it. Surely someone could have come up with one good idea in 13 years.

I don't think heroin users draw a lot of sympathy though which is probably part of the problem.

[Quiettimect]

Originally Posted by MrGompers

I remember that Hartford Courant article too. Don't remember the 60 minutes spot, but I think I saw it at some point.

What is sad is 13 years have passed and not a single thing has been done about it. Surely someone could have come up with one good idea in 13 years.

I don't think heroin users draw a lot of sympathy though which is probably part of the problem.

I'm not sure anything can be done insofar as poverty and drug addiction in town. Willimantic is a regional center for halfway houses, has a methadone clinic, a soup kitchen, no-freeze shelters, sympathetic places of worship and most importantly a kind, tolerant population.

I remember back in the late 80's two guys, I think Mark Svetz and Tony Clark, ran a needle exchange program to stem the tide of AIDS ................... The State told them to shut down or be arrested, they choose to be arrested. No matter how you feel about their actions you have to admire their "walking the walk". I brought this up because while this was all going on I would see Tony Clark eating breakfast with the prosecutor like old friends. That is Willimantic.

As I said earlier the town is not for everyone, but it is not as portrayed.