"Does not fit the neighborhood." If you were here in the first quarter
of the 20th century when electricity came to The Valley, the poles,
overhead lines and transformers surely did not fit the existing
neighborhood. In 1948, did Mad River Glen fit the neighborhood?
Doubtful. The Mad River Green Shopping Center did not fit the
neighborhood; which prior to that consisted of Kenyon's farm, Walter
Kenyon's pool hall in the shed and Everett Marshall's workshop.
In the 1950s, the farms in The Valley, which at one time were very
numerous, were already starting to decline. Count them now. There were
numerous lumber processing mills in Moretown, Waitsfield, Fayston and
Warren. How many now? The decline and virtual extinction of these
industries on which the local population depended was steering the
greater Valley into a ghost town had it not been for changes that did
not fit the neighborhood.
These changes that did not fit the neighborhood were responsible for the
character, amenities and conveniences that drew most of you here to
live. And now it appears that once here that no more changes should
occur. I feel very sorry for The Valley and anyone who wants to bring
jobs, changes and income into The Valley if it does not fit the mold
that exists in 2010.
The majority of you probably have no recollection or concept of what The
Valley was like in the 1950s and 1960s. Thank God for the changes in
the neighborhood or you and most of the part-time residents, employees
and business owners would not be living in The Valley. There would have
been nothing there that would attract you.
I will refrain from making that argument as it too would be selfish and
hypocritical.
Steve Joslin
Waitsfield native
Graniteville, VT
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