This Week in History June 11-17
10 years ago:
In a first sign of financial trouble at The Hermitage Club, developer James Barnes complained that permitting delays were holding up $62 million in funding for his construction projects at the private resort. Frustrated by the delays, Barnes planned to separate a project for the development of the Deerfield Valley Airport and adjacent East Tract from the master plan permit application for Haystack development.
Readsboro historian Al Scaia and Readsboro Hometown Redevelopment, a nonprofit organization promoting economic, social, and educational growth in the town, held an event at which Scaia would encourage local residents to share their stories and memories of Readsboro. Scaia also recounted stories he had collected from Readsboro residents over the years.
15 years ago:
The Deerfield Valley Transit Association (MOOver) demolished 26,000 square feet of their Mill Street headquarters. The 57,000-square-foot building, which was eventually completely demolished to make way for new offices and maintenance bays, was known simply as “the barnboard factory” to many. But in addition to the Vermont Barnboard company, the building had been home to a number of businesses. Originally built in 1917, the first business to occupy the site was Luddington Mills, a manufacturer of clothespins and other wooden household items. Some locals still called the building “the plywood factory,” referring to its use by a manufacturer of plywood fruit boxes and, during WWII, ammunition boxes. It also served as an assembly plant for Rokon motorcycles in the 1970s, and a lumber and hardware store into the 1990s.
20 years ago:
The town of Wilmington and residents of Shearer Hill Road reached an agreement on paving of the road. The agreement ended a contentious debate that had lasted more than a year. Many residents were against the paving project.
Readsboro’s selectboard administrator accused the board of ongoing harassment, creating a hostile work environment, and filing complaints with two state agencies. She said the problems began after she was in a serious accident and, when she applied for additional employment with the town as temporary town clerk, the board said they didn’t want to appoint her because she might have a medical disability.
25 years ago:
Some Wilmington residents were up in arms after the highway department widened Adams Lane to 18 feet and changed the way the road intersected with Stowe Hill. Some residents thought the changes were related to a controversial proposal to create a community center at the former Green Meadows School on Stowe Hill. Highway department foreman Mike Penson said the project was simply intended to bring the road up to specifications as a class III road.
30 years ago:
Everyone from the Speaker of the House, Michael Obuchowski, to Wilmington voters reacted with shock and suprise when Wilmington Selectboard Chair Ann Manwaring resigned from the board after 15 years of service to the town. Manwaring said the time commitment had become too intrusive.
The Arms store in Wardsboro was hoisted off its old foundation and moved to a new foundation. The building was built in the 1880s after a fire destroyed the original building and several other village buildings.
35 years ago:
Dr. Harry Haroutunian proposed a “Wolf-Teeples” clinic to honor Dr. Milton “Mickey” Wolf and Peg Teeples, who Haroutunian credited with bringing him to the valley. The plan was for a free clinic for valley residents, operating out of Haroutunian’s office. “We all know someone who needs (help),” Haroutunian said. “We need to have a free clinic and I think every town in America should have one.”
40 years ago:
The Wilmington Fire Department took delivery of a new engine. Monique Holland, secretary for the auxiliary, christened the $114,000 truck with a bottle of champagne.
Weight Watchers Magazine arrived in Readsboro for a photo shoot at a local residence. The subject of the future article was a chicken pie and beef stew cooked in the fireplace of an old farmhouse.
45 years ago:
Dover resident Clyde Jones received the Wilmington American Legion’s distinguished citizen award for outstanding community service at the annual Memorial Day service at Memorial Hall. Capt. Herb Childs noted that Jones had held every elective office in Dover.
50 years ago:
The Red Cricket sponsored a boat ride on Dick Joyce’s Mountain Mills as part of the local Memorial Day celebration.
Columnist Mike Twine quipped that some Vermont companies have found that trying to get money from a bankrupt ski resort is like trying to find a needle in a Haystack.
55 years ago:
A group of 16 diehard skiers ascended Fountain Mountain for the annual Memorial Day Nastar Ski Race. The run down the so-called man-made glacier (formed by snow and ice buildup during the winter from a fountain at Snow Lake) ended in a knee-deep pool of water. Racers took three runs down a short, seven-gate course. Participants included Kent Webster and Terry Clark.
