In preparation for installing the new LED message board, the Warren town crew uncovered this memorial stone on the green just north of the Warren Historical Society.
Tude Tanguay was a musician and played with a group called the Mountaineers. This is not Mr. Tanguay’s final resting place. He is buried in the New Cemetery in Warren. We would welcome more information about this interesting Warren resident and his musical career.
Playing the fiddle this unorthodox way, bearded Tude Tanguay calls the turns.
I spoke with Tude Jr. a few weeks ago and asked him what the stone was for. He said his dad was a proud supporter of Warren and a tree had been planted in his name upon his passing. The stone was to mark his service to the town. Apparently, the tree passed, as well. The stone was moved several feet from its original location and given a 90 degree turn in order to accommodate the wiring for the new sign. Now that I think about it, I wonder when that sign will be lit up?
hi-
I’d love to provide information about Tude Tanguay. He was my father, and I remember when this stone was placed, and if my memory serves me correctly, it is across from the Warren church, and below the Town Hall, so the location overlooks the town green. He lived an interesting life, and while people may remember him best for his fiddle playing, he left an important legacy to Warren and surrounding towns in the form of encouraging the preservation of open spaces. The old 4H Camp which became Warren Woods, and the town park on the north end of Lake Waramaug were two areas he worked quietly but diligently to preserve as open spaces. Glad to see this stone has been uncovered.
Tude was a good friend of my father, Jimmy Gilpin, fiddle player of the Pioneer Trio. My Dad had much respect for Tude Tanguay and loved his unorthodox style of playing the violin / fiddle. As a kid, I remember watching Tude play his fiddle while placed under his legs. Tude was a person, with whom just the mention of his name, made my Dad smile.
Pamela Gilpin Stowe
Would you or your dad like to share some of your memories of Tude with out oral history recorders?
Tude was a good friend of my father, Jimmy Gilpin, fiddle player of the Pioneer Trio. My Dad had much respect for Tude Tanguay and loved his unorthodox style of playing the violin / fiddle. As a kid, I remember watching Tude play his fiddle while placed under his legs.
Pamela Gilpin Stowe
Tude was my Grandpa. Even though he died when I was three, I have such wonderful memories of a house full of live music! Thank you for placing the memorial so it doesn’t get lost again.
Sincerely,
Royan Herbert Bartley
Dear Royan Batley,
Tude was such a feature in Warren. Besides the memorial next to the Community Center, there is Fiddler’s Pond, the centerpiece of Warren Woods. We would welcome your memories of him. Our oral history committee has him on a list of those we want to commmeorate.
In the late 40’s and early 50’s I saw Tude frequently when He was employed by the Ct. State Parks along with my stepfather, Nate Strong. When bothered by a buzzing wasp he would swat at the offending insect and plea “Leave me bee” or lean momentarily on his scythe and query “Think you’ll ever amount to anything, Lainie?” In addition to playing the fiddle under his legs and behind his back he would call for a female volunteer to sit on his lap on stage. Once ensconced she would awkwardly hold the bow while Tude maneuvered the fiddle itself and uncannily a recognizable tune would emerge. When we were teenagers, my sister Pat and I gave a party held in the barn at Housatonic Park attended by dozens of HVRHS students. Tude provided the music and entertainment and held everyone in thrall. I don’t recall any exchange of money for his labor. Given his generous nature, instinct tells me that he would summarily refuse any form of payment.
Thank you so much for sharing this lovely memory!
Louise Tanguay Fillinger- Another of my father’s favorite projects was restoring the Appalachian trail through that area. We spent many a day stomping around in the woods marking the trail. He knew the woods like the back of his hand and could tell you where to find every native wild flower. Including the beautiful but very rare yellow lady slipper. He never let us pick them though.
I just saw a post on the “Warren looking forward” facebook page of a recording with Tude Tanguay. The way the post read it lead me to believe that Tude was still alive. I was explaining to my partner that I can’t imagine Tude is still alive but I got excited at the idea he might be. This lead to a conversation with me trying to describe my early childhood memories of Tude. I explained that I remember Tude playing bluegrass on the wood stage that is the bandstand at the Warren Woods. I described his appearance as a friendly mountain man. I did not know anything about Tude’s life legacies before reading the comments above. I loved reading each testimonial and learned so much more about a man my father, Edward Keith Sr., highly regarded and called a friend. One time I visited Tude at his home with my father. I just felt so much warmth, harmony with nature and peace at his home. In my adult life looking back, I can see how his home would inspire his music. I don’t have much memory of Tude, his wife, his children I could not name, but he made an imprint on my childhood memory as a sweet kind man who enjoyed the music he played and enjoyed my presence listening and dancing to it. I am so glad my childhood memories of Tude are accurately verified in the above testimonials from his family. Now gain confirming his passing, I miss him all over again!
Karoline, Tude is alive and well, this post on our website is about his father, Tude Sr (1908-19720).