This Week in History - October 16 - 22

10 years ago:
School board members from Stamford, Readsboro, and Halifax, joined by Rep. Laura Sibilia, created a study committee to explore consolidation options under Act 46 or an earlier consolidation law, Act 153. They pondered whether they could meet the requirements of the law if they consolidated their board governance, but kept the operations and hiring at their schools independent of each other.
15 years ago:
Twin Valley High School Principal Frank Spencer announced his retirement at the end of the year, after four decades as a teacher and administrator at the school. Reflecting on the school’s transition from Wilmington High School to Twin Valley High School serving Wilmington and Whitingham students, Spencer said he planned to remain a member of both communities. 
The Anchor restaurant in Wilmington, newly rebuilt after the original building was destroyed by fire in January 2010, reopened to the public.
20 years ago:
Thirty-five-year West Dover Fire Department veteran John Mulhall bid farewell to the valley. Mulhall, who was originally from Queens, NY, where he was also a firefighter, first came to Dover in 1967 as a “ski bum.” A year later he joined West Dover’s budding volunteer department, and in 1970 he and his wife Jeannie decided to move to the area permanently. He became chief of the West Dover department in 1980. The couple planned to move to Florida to be closer to family.
Heavy rains dampened spirits over Columbus Day weekend, traditionally one of the area’s busiest holidays. Despite the hit on business levels, locals were breathing a sigh of relief. Although many areas of the state flooded, the Deerfield Valley was spared any serious flooding despite receiving more than 9 inches of rain.
25 years ago:
Gov. Howard Dean visited the Readsboro School. Dean read “Just a Dream,” a story about recycling and ecology, to 26 students in first through fourth grades. During a question and answer period with students, Dean was asked if people were “throwing bombs at you to stop you from being governor.” Dean assured students that Vermont’s political climate was still relatively friendly.
Searsburg resident Donald Towne discussed his activism on behalf of local conservative causes. In addition to distributing conservative candidates’ leaflets and signs, Towne was also active in the “Take Back Vermont” movement, which sought to repeal civil unions legislation and Act 60.
30 years ago:
State officials noted that teen smoking rates were up around the state, and The Deerfield Valley News examined the phenomenon in the valley. A 14-year-old Wilmington High School student said he had been smoking for almost a year, and had no problem getting cigarettes at local stores. Another teen said that her mother bought cigarettes for her. Her mother said it was better than having her daughter stand outside stores asking strangers to buy cigarettes. New legislation pushed by the Clinton administration was aimed at eliminating marketing aimed at teens and to crack down on the sale of cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18.
The West Dover Fire Department’s “coin drop” came under fire from business owners and some local officials. The coin drop, held on Columbus Day weekend, raised between $3,000 and $4,000, and was used to buy equipment and supplies for the department. Opponents said the coin drop was an inconvenience for travelers, and unfair to tourists. Karyn Steinfeldt, owner of Two Tannery Restaurant, said “I find it embarrassing that right across the street from a $650,000 firehouse, you would be asking for money.”
35 years ago:
The Valley Trail proposal, originally designed by East Dover resident Tom Martin, got a shot in the arm when the Dover Selectboard approved the private trail committee’s charter.
There was controversy at Whitingham School over the content of a teen novel by Judy Blume. The book was removed from the library shelves and put in “the back room” after a complaint from a parent. One board member wanted the book banned entirely, but the board eventually agreed to require students to get parental consent before borrowing the book. “Forever,” by Judy Blume, is a story about a first love affair between two high school seniors. The book was recommended by the American Library Associations Booklist.
40 years ago:
A New Jersey man crashed his single engine plane on the eighth hole at the Mount Snow Golf Course. The pilot, a second-home owner, touched down at the adjacent airport, but a gust of wind lifted the plane and carried it over the trees at the end of the runway and onto the golf course. No one was seriously injured in the crash.
A Mercedes-Benz that was stolen from Wilmington on August 22 was found in Pascaquola, MS.
Deerfield Valley Elementary School teacher Kathy Larsen was named outstanding teacher of the year.
45 years ago:
A squirrel hunter from North Adams, MA, accidentally shot his 10-year-old son in the leg while hunting in Whitingham. The hunter said he always kept the safety off his .22 caliber pistol, as it helped him shoot faster. The gun went off accidentally when he pulled it from the holster. The boy was treated by Dr. Milton Wolf and taken to the hospital.
Chris Diamond, Janet Green, and Ralph Gerstle were appointed to the Dover Planning Commission.
55 years ago:
A 6-foot skiing elephant was removed from Mount Snow’s Pumpkin Patch Nursery by pranksters, causing more than $200 in damage. The fiberglass elephant was deposited on the lawn of Chester “Chet” Hagedorn, who posed with the beast for The Deerfield Valley News.