Autumn in the North Cemetery.

Sixty miles west of Boston, Massachusetts there is the small New England town of Sturbridge. Located at the junction of I-90 (The Mass Pike), and I-84 it has become known as the "Crossroads of New England". The town was first settled over 300 years ago, and like other small New England towns it has grown just enough over the years to be in a difficult place today. How do we embrace the future without forgetting how we got to our present? How do we attract the right kind of growth, and maintain who we are? And, what about our culture out here in Central Massachusetts?



These pages will cause one to think about how to protect what we have, our future direction, and how to move on in the very best way.


Those thoughts, and other ramblings, will hopefully inspire more thought, conversation, action, and occasionally a smile...

...seems to be working so far

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Just How Sturbridge Are You? Very.

The results of the poll, "How Sturbridge Are You?" are in. Each person was allowed to make multiple choices. Based on the responses, the visitors to this Blog are very Sturbridge!


With the exception of the Canoe Race, with only 21% having indicated they had participated in, everything else rated greater than 75%. The one puzzler was only 57% had had a picnic at Westville Lake. This surprised me. The area is beautiful. There's the river running along side the meadows, the walking trails around the lake, picnic tables in the grove, and along the river each with its own barbecue grill. There are even sheltered tables for functions. And, it has real rest rooms, too.


Put Westville on your list for the Spring.


So, what does this all mean? It shows that we do use what our town has to offer. The library, the Common, the shops around town. We have bought goods at the Publick House Bakery, and have seen a ball game at Turner Field. We've walked along the river, into Wells State Park, and have visited OSV. And, we've swam and enjoyed boating on our lakes.


There is interest in our town from those within the town. This is important. We could not promote our town unless we had experienced it ourselves.

No sense in buying more land for recreation if we weren't using what we already had. Now, we have a couple of new parcels to "break in", and they are fantastic tracts of land. Drop a line to the Town Manager, or call, and offer to volunteer your time to help clear the trails, build kiosks, map the land, and do whatever needs to be done. I figure one weekend day every couple of months or so would be of enormous help.

The results of the poll are posted below.


I have swam at the Streeter Point Recreation area. 85%
I have a library card. 78%
I have been in a boat on one of our lakes. 85%
I have walked a trail in town more than once. 100%
I have walked/driven through Wells State Park. 78%
I have been to Old Sturbridge Village. 100%
I have been to the Concerts on the Common. 78%
I have been to the Harvest Festival. 85%
I have bought pastry at the bakery at the Publick House. 92%
I have been to a ball game at Turner Field. 71%
I have participated in the canoe race. 21%
I have frequented the antique and crafts shops in town. 92%
I have had a picnic at Westville Recreation Area. 57%
I have walked along the banks of the Quinebaug River. 71%

2 comments:

  1. How about another question? How many people have watched a movie at the Village Cinema? I subscribe to their cinema emails & they are always decent movies for only $5!

    I even contacted the village about letting the schools (start with Sturbridge then Southbridge and surrounding towns - Elementary, Jr. High, High School) vote on an age appropriate movie of their choice. That way it gets the word out and lets the younger residents decide. Also, let the seniors vote (maybe at the senior center) etc. Get the word out that we HAVE a cinema in town! And there is something to do on a Friday and Saturday night. Just my thoughts!

    Keep up the guessing games with the pictures! I actually took a road trip trying to find it! I was pretty close - there was a couple I thought it could have been including the correct one!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey You Again,
    I have heard from several people about the Cinema at OSV, and we have both wanted to go there. I guess it's time.

    I like your idea about involving the schools, and the Senior Center. Who knows, maybe they will expand it to other nights of the week if the demand increases.

    I also like how OSV is thinking. They are trying something all together new. It is working, they are getting noticed more, and I am sure it is rubbing off in ticket sales (although we folk of the village are admitted for free.).

    This is the kind of thinking that will help them dramatically. There are other things they can do as well, they just haven't thought of them yet. They will.

    And, I will keep the photos coming. I have quite a few. I went by the house this morning (at least I think it is the one that iwas told it was), and it sure does look like. Now, if I only knew the story behind the photo...CSI: Sturbridge, anyone?

    ReplyDelete



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