This Week in History 28 May - 3 June

10 years ago:
More than 200 Wilmington and Whitingham residents signed a petition imploring the Twin Valley School Board and Wilmington Selectboard to sell the former Twin Valley High School building in Wilmington. The building was closed as a school facility after the two towns consolidated their schools, and renovated the former Deerfield Valley Elementary School (now Twin Valley Elementary School) and Whitingham School (now Twin Valley Middle High School).
In a related development, the Twin Valley School Board warned an informational meeting on the sale of the former school building, and announced that an RFP seeking bids on the property would go out within days. The facility is now owned and operated as the Old School Community Center by the nonprofit Old School Enrichment Council.
15 years ago:
Brian Donelson released his second volume of “The Coming of the Train.” The immensely popular books were ostensibly the story of the Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington Railroad, but were de facto histories of Deerfield Valley towns. The first volume focused on the development of the Deerfield River by the industrialist Newton Brothers, and the second volume focused on the development of the river for electrical power generation. Donelson’s books were meticulously researched, informative, and crammed full of rare historical photographs, tables, maps, and other images.
20 years ago:
Wilmington voters at a special Town Meeting slashed a $4-per-bag tipping fee for household trash that had been set at the March Town Meeting. Voter CB Goldstein petitioned a reconsideration of the solid waste budget. A diverse group of voters supported the change in pricing, citing a government or collective responsibility to provide the service. Those who supported the higher rate suggested it might encourage more recycling.
25 years ago:
The Church of Latter Day Saints was getting ready for a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Brigham Young, founder of the Mormon Church. The festivities included a program of events in Young’s birthplace of Whitingham.
A local group hoping to create a recreation center with a hockey rink in the valley was considering Haystack’s base lodge as a possible site.
30 years ago:
Halifax resident Bob Rusten announced his candidacy for the House seat that would be vacated by outgoing Representative David Larsen. Rusten pledged to take a nonpartisan approach to problem-solving.
The Whitingham Free Public Library held a seminar on dowsing at Town Hill. Local “water witch” Paul Dary, of Halifax, showed attendees how to locate water using a dowsing stick. Dary said he could use the technique to locate water, old septic tanks, and sewer lines, too.
35 years ago:
Richard and Joyce Hamilton were celebrating their 45th year running Skyline Restaurant on Hogback Mountain. The original restaurant, built in the style of a log cabin, sat 36 patrons. Joyce (White) Hamilton had worked on Hogback since her schooldays; her father, Harold White, owned and operated the gift shop on Hogback, and owned and leased the original “tearoom.” Richard and Joyce were married and moved to a farm at the base of the mountain shortly after he returned from WWII, and Joyce’s father offered them the opportunity to run the Skyline Restaurant.
40 years ago:
Wilmington School Board members hired Patricia Mehlhop for a teaching position at Deerfield Valley Elementary School. Among Mehlhop’s impressive educational credentials was the completion of a Purdue University program for teaching gifted and talented children.
The Living History Association held a three-day convention complete with Civil War regiments, Native Americans, and a Revolutionary War contingent.
45 years ago:
Snowbrook Lodge proprietor Micky Warburton sought an Act 250 permit to build eight condominium units on his property on Handle Road near the Mount Snow base area. Abutting property owners expressed concern about traffic congestion and soil erosion.
The Marlboro Morris and Swords Club was celebrating their sixth annual Marlboro Morris Ale.
50 years ago:
Wilmington Town Manager Bob Grinold submitted his letter of resignation to the selectboard. Grinold said he was leaving to concentrate on his own business interests.
The Memorial Day sale at Grand Union included strawberries for 49 cents per pint, watermelon for 12 cents per pound, and chicken quarters for 59 cents per pound.
55 years ago:
Philip Davis moved his 125-year-old barn from its original, but crumbling, foundation to a new masonry block foundation. The barn was moved over the course of a day, and finally slid into place on rollers supported by cribwork pylons. Today, the 170-year-old barn still looks solid on its 45-year-old foundation.