'Turnback Tuesday' features 'Palace of Sweets' in Derby, Ansonia

Turnback Tuesday remembers that delightful "Palace of Sweets", Vonetes Confections, specializing in Ice Cream.

It was started

in 1906 by Peter E. Vonetes at 242 Main St., Ansonia, with his brother, Harry, as a clerk.

By 1912, the success of the first shop inspired a second location to be opened at 262 Main St., Derby. The shops were a favorite for so many.

In the 1960s, Harry passed away and Peter retired.

The stores lived on for the next generation until the doors were closed in 1997, with the Derby location having been last owned by beloved Derby icon, Fran Terlizzi .

These images of a fan, which was common as a form of advertising in the early 1900s, are a recent donation from Robert Ahearn.

Thanks goes to Derby Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.

'Turnback Tuesday' features Vonetes Palace of Sweets in Derby

'Turnback Tuesday' remembers Vonetes Palace of Sweets on Main Street in Derby, which opened in 1905, about a year after its sister shop had opened in Ansonia. 

From 1955 to 1961 Vonetes had a tradition of giving a free banana split to every Derby High School football player who scored a touchdown. In fact, Derby local Bill Pucci received 11 of those free banana splits. 

Bill, who relayed this about Vonetes, was a freelance sports writer for the Evening Sentinel, Valley Drummer and Valley Times.

Thanks as always to the Derby Public Library for sharing this interesting local history.

Derby Public Library to host 'The Palace of Sweets' author

DERBY - The Derby Public Library welcomes back local author Salvatore Coppola at 6:30 p.m. March 28.

Since Coppola's first visit in September when he discussed 

his writing process and gave a brief outline of the book, many readers have had the opportunity to read The Palace of Sweets themselves.

So this time Coppola will delve deeper into the story and discuss the entire book.  

Quickly becoming a local favorite, at the center of this

historical fiction love story is the downtown Derby iconic ice cream shop, Vonetes Palace of Sweets.  

Three major Valley events are included, the BF Goodrich arson, the River Restaurant explosion, and attempted take-

over of Derby Savings Bank, along with the Vietnam War.  

Copies of the book will be available for purchase.

Registration is requested.  
For more information, stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library. 

Derby native to discuss novel at Library

DERBY - What's more interesting than learning some local history?

Derby native Sal Coppola will visit Derby Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22 to discuss

his recently published book, Palace of Sweets.   

At the center of this historical fiction love story is the downtown Derby iconic ice cream shop, Vonetes Palace of Sweets.

Three major Valley events are included, the B.F. Goodrich arson, the River Restaurant explosion, and an attempted 

takeover of Derby Savings Bank, along with the Vietnam War.

This sounds like a fun read for anyone who lives in or loves the lower Naugatuck Valley!

Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Registration is requested.  

For information, stop by the Library at 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

This is a press release from Cathy Williams, Director, Derby Public Library.