This Week in History: August 20 - 26
10 years ago:
Deerfield Valley News readers, contributors, and staff reflected on their experiences during the floods that ravaged the valley with Tropical Storm Irene five years earlier. Fire Chief Ken March recalled 3,000-gallon propane tanks “flying down the river like submarines.” Patty Reagan, owner of Dot’s Resaurant, also remembered the propane tanks, and said she feared that Dot’s was going to explode and burn down, surrounded by water. Selectboard chair Tom Consolino said his most vivid memory was of the army of volunteers who stepped up in the aftermath of the destruction.
15 years ago:
Wilmington and Dover selectboard members met to reevaluate the structure of the Bi-town Economic Development Committee, a partnership between Wilmington and Dover, after the departure of Bill Colvin, who had been hired to serve as the economic development planner for the group. Dover Selectboard member William “Buzzy” Buswell suggested rehiring Colvin as a consultant, and carrying on essentially as before. Other Dover board members pressed the group to move forward with the employment of a new planner. Wilmington board members balked, suggesting they needed to consult with voters at the next Town Meeting before proceeding.
20 years ago:
The Twin Valley Facilities Committee pondered their role as several school issues collided. While facilities committee members continued to seek solutions for providing a school facility, another committee was convened to study school governance and configuration options – some of which could change the facilities’ needs. Meanwhile, a group of voters in Wilmington and Whitingham were pursuing a dissolution of the Twin Valley Joint Contract District. Facilities committee chair Ann Manwaring predicted there would be “mass confusion,” but vowed to continue the committee’s work.
25 years ago:
Elizabeth McEwen was hired as the director of a new, federally-funded school program in Whitingham, Whitingham Wings. As the first director, McEwen was responsible for setting the program in motion and serving the after-school needs of Whitingham students. McEwen encouraged the involvement of community members in the programs.
In reaction to belt-tightening under Act 60, some Wilmington parents created a “booster club” to raise money for extracurricular activities for students attending Wilmington schools.
30 years ago:
A suspect in an armed robbery at Christy’s Market (formerly Grampy’s, now 7-Eleven) was arrested after a two-day manhunt in Dover, Townshend, Brattleboro, and Hinsdale, NH. The suspect was accused of robbing the store of an undisclosed amount of cash while threatening clerks with a crossbow.
Wardsboro resident John Moran announced his candidacy for the Windham-4 House seat occupied by Wendell Coleman. Coleman, a Republican, was also facing a primary challenge from Rick Hube, of Londonderry. Moran said the top issues on the minds of voters were property tax reform, health care, and economic security.
A transportation consultant told Dover and Wilmington selectboard members that the Deerfield Valley Transit Association’s operation plan had “a high success potential.”
35 years ago:
The Valley Trail was set to get a financial shot in the arm thanks to the Vermont Chili Cook-Off. Proceeds from the event were to be donated to the nonprofit Deerfield Valley Trail Committee. Although the concept had been around for a while, the proposal had recently received a vote of support by the Dover Selectboard as well as local businesses. Selectboard member Cathy Kaufmann said she’d like to see the trail extended to Wilmington and East Dover someday.
According to an article on the Foundation Formula, a state education funding formula in use prior to Act 60, most resort towns received no state aid, although they contributed as much as seven times the tax revenue to the state per capita than non-resort towns. The Foundation Formula, like Act 60, relied upon a statewide property value equalization formula, but no statewide property tax.
40 years ago:
Kristine Kaye, of West Dover, traveled to Russia, where she discovered a society so strictly controlled that residents were required to report any contacts with foreigners, travel was monitored, and the hotel rooms for foreigners were bugged. Kaye said she spent an evening visiting a friend at the American Embassy. The next day, she said, a Russian guard followed her wherever she went. A separate press release announced that Kaye had joined the staff of The Deerfield Valley News as a reporter.
45 years ago:
More than 135 valley residents attended a series of CPR courses at Mount Snow over one weekend. Coordinator Tom Meade said he planned for no more than 50 people.
The Readsboro Volunteer Fire Department took its ninth state championship at the 92nd Vermont Firefighters Convention in Brattleboro.
The Codogni family held a reunion of the descendants of Mary and Alessio Codogni. Three generations and 50 family members were in attendance. Jenny Baruzzi, 75, was the oldest, and Emile Codogni, nine days, was the youngest member of the family.
50 years ago:
Whitingham held their seventh Old Home Week, and for the seventh time, Leon Carpenter led the parade as Chief Sadawga. A number of residents brought their family heirlooms out of the attic and displayed them at the historical society’s new museum.
Local gardeners were featured, including Alice and Arthur Robinson. Alice said the growing season had been awful, but she managed to put up some of her famous mustard pickles.
The Stovall Brown seven-piece band was playing at Infinity North Disco at the Andirons Lodge.
