September 29, 2023
Diddlewomp, The Reluctant Dragon

From Executive Director Carolyn Venne - Facebook can be an excellent breeding ground for local history lore!

Scotland has the Loch Ness Monster, Vermont has Champ, the Lake Champlain Monster, and South Windsor has... Diddlewomp?  

In the evening of September 17, Bob Powers posted a plea in a local Facebook group with a picture from Pleasant Valley School in South Windsor.

"Through persistence and with the kind help of one of the men working on the demolition of the old Pleasant Valley School, I am now in possession of an above ground artifact. It’s the head of the old jungle gym (a sea serpent perhaps) located behind the school.  It was destined for the scrap yard."

For those who are not aware, the original Pleasant Valley Elementary School, built in 1966, closed its doors in June, with faculty and students starting at the newly built (and much larger) PV School this fall.  The new school was built on an

adjacent site, and this summer demolition began on the old school... and its old playground equipment.

Bob continued his post with the following questions:  "Now I’m asking for anyone who knows its history or has memories to consider sharing/responding.  When did it appear at PVS?  Did it have a name (Nessie)?  Where was the head made?  Does anyone have color photos of the head when it was new?  Did you or anyone you know have to visit the nurse after falling off it?"

Within just a few hours, it was re-posted in a different group called "You grew up in South Windsor, Connecticut if" and the comments came rolling in.

"Featuring a cast aluminum head that will last a lifetime"

"We all called him Diddlewomp, it was said that a creature like him roamed Spring Pond in the '60's, preyed on unsuspecting kids there for swimming lessons in the morning, when it was rumored he would feed."  Jamie Fulton

"I fell from the PV jungle gym on my first day of kindergarten 1978. Trip to the nurse & all.  He was there to witness the most uncoordinated child on the playground- ever."  Kerry Kelley

"I played on this in the late 80s/early 90s (I graduated PV in 91). What a fun structure!"  Laura Woollett

"I started teaching kindergarten in 1976! Our lovely playscape consisted of a sand box and the serpent right outside of the K rooms. The slide and swings were at the end of the north door. I’m so glad that you took this picture. I used to take a class picture with my kids on it. Such heart warming memories."  Deb Hay

With some information to start searching online, Bob contacted Game Time to inquire about the equipment, and a national account coordinator responded within 24 hours.  The company rep reported that "The Reluctant Dragon" equipment was manufactured in 1969 and shared a few images from a vintage product catalog (below).  Kiley Helton of Game Time additionally said "It's so neat to hear that our equipment has held up this long.  What a cool find!"  Not surprising, upon learning that it was made to "last a lifetime!"

Bob's Plans

Bob's quest to obtain the playground head began when he told his sons about the upcoming demolition.  They attended the school in the 1980s and tasked Bob with trying to save a brick for each of them from the original PV school.  Upon spotting the faded serpent head, Bob thought it would make for a neat keepsake and lawn ornament.  

Bob's plan is to restore the piece's paint to its "original glory" and to place it in his already quirky pool garden that features some pink flamingos.  He's thinking he'll recreate the shape of the original serpent/dragon with white lights, and he's promised to share a completed image when it's fully installed.  

Well done, Bob, and thanks for this fun story!

Bob's new Facebook profile picture

Do you have any fun collection items or stories from South Windsor's past?  We'd love to hear them and feature them in a Musing!  Contact Jess Vogelgesang.

For Further Reading

 - Lake Monster Legends from Around the World

 - Vanishing Playground Equipment of the 1950s and ’60s  (shared by Scott Powers)

 - Goodbye, Pleasant Valley