This Week in History 14-20 May
10 years ago:
The articles of agreement for Twin Valley’s proposed “unified union school district,” were taking shape. If approved by local voters, it would create a single, unified, K-12 district encompassing Wilmington and Whitingham. The “merger,” a refinement and consolidation of the two towns’ previous “joint contract” school district, met the requirements of Act 46, which provided a tax break and other incentives for the new district.
15 years ago:
Dozens of local teams, along with teams and individuals from all over the region, competed in the area’s first Tough Mudder event. One of the local teams was The Dirty Girls, which included Teanille Cutler, Erin Diaz, and Elisha Boisvert. The team completed the course in five hours, the course average. Some teams took as long as seven hours to finish. The event raised more than $175,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project.
20 years ago:
Rep. Bob Rusten, whose term in the Legislature would end in May, was hired as Wilmington Town Manager. Rusten was selected from a pool of 35 candidates from as far away as Brussels, Belgium. Selectboard members said they expected that Rusten’s legislative expertise as well as his experience as a business consultant would be a benefit to the town.
The Historical Society of Wilmington sponsored a talk by noted Vermont author and historian Howard Coffin on Vermont’s role in the Civil War. Coffin promised that his discussion, which was intended for local school students, wouldn’t be “dull.” Coffin said Vermont soldiers played a pivotal role in the war. “On a per-capita basis, Vermont did more to win the Civil War than any other state.”
25 years ago:
The Dover Selectboard authorized the treasurer to cut a check to the state for more than $500,000, ending the town’s legal battle over Act 60. The board’s decision came after a ruling by the Vermont Supreme Court that upheld the state’s interpretation of the definition of “budget” in the “soft landing” provision of Act 60. Dover and Killington had claimed a different interpretation of the clause, which would have resulted in a much lower amount owed to the state.
The Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce’s downtown revitalization committee planned to restore a fountain in front of Pettee Memorial Library. The fountain was donated to the town in 1906 by Maudie Loretta Stone in memory of her father, Lewis Porter Stone.
30 years ago:
Les Otten, whose LBO Enterprises had recently purchased Mount Snow, said Mount Snow was “in a time warp” and needed to “build 1990s assets.” Otten said the resort would recapture its past glamour with a 300-room hotel and a convention center for 500-600 guests.
A former employee filed a $20 million lawsuit against Mount Snow Ltd. claiming age discrimination. The 22-year-old employee said he was fired because of his age. Mount Snow executives claimed that the man’s position with the company had been eliminated.
35 years ago:
Wilmington’s water supply, located on Ray Hill Road, was nearly 90 years old and didn’t meet federal standards. The town water district was considering a reconstruction plan, which included nearly $2 million in grants and another million in low interest loans. To pay for the town’s share of the project, however, user rates were projected to jump from $24 per year to $250 per year.
40 years ago:
Wilmington High School social studies teacher David Larsen announced that he would run as a Democratic candidate for the Vermont House of Representatives. Larsen’s district would include Halifax, Searsburg, Somerset, Whitingham, and Wilmington.
45 years ago:
A long-awaited court hearing on a petition brought by the Chimney Hill Homeowners Association, asking the town to take over nearly 15 miles of Chimney Hill roads, began with a tour of the roads. The Wilmington Selectboard had turned down the petition because the roads were not up to specifications.
Vermont Yankee and civil defense officials from Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire released a new nuclear emergency plan. The new plan was mandated by the federal government in response to the March 1979 nuclear accident at Three Mile Island.
105 years ago (In The Deerfield Valley Times):
There was a “booze raid” at Mountain Mills. Sheriff’s deputies armed with a search warrant visited a private house in the village (which was located in an area that is now under Harriman Reservoir). The raid resulted in the capture of a beer keg full of mash, six or eight bottles of assorted “hootch,” and several empty bottles. The “hootch” was brought to Wilmington Village, where it was secured in the village lockup. Prohibition, banning the sale and consumption of alcohol under the 18th amendment of the US Constitution, had been in effect for about a year and a half.
Verne L. Adams announced that he had taken over the repair business at the Childs Tavern Garage (now Bartleby’s Books). “With new equipment and skilled workmen I am prepared to relieve you of your motor troubles of every description,” Adams wrote.
