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, July 17, 2008

The Fabric Of Change

Times, they are a-changin' here in Central Mass. Wrights Factory Outlet in the Mill building in Fiskdale is closing forever. Old news, I know, but Wal*Mart is closing their fabric department as well with their upcoming remodeling as well. New news.

Sew? Well, sewing, quilting, and other home crafts are popular out this way, and with two sources of fabric no longer being available, then what?

Not the end of the world, but for many it is disappointing. Wal*Mart knows what sells, and what doesn't. Obviously, it didn't sell well enough. Good news is that Wal*Mart has begun to sell ammunition again!! Yeeee-haaah!!

The world is changing right in front of us. If you need it, and want it, you can order it on line. That means waiting. Waiting is no fun if you are on a roll, and want to get those curtains hung by the next day. It's all about convenience. I know I would go into mourning if Howlett Lumber ever stopped carrying nails.

Change creeps up on us.

Now there is a hole in the market for sewing, and fabric suppliers in the area. This would be a good time to fill that void. Folks would make trips from out of state to shop at Wrights since they offered so much. I wonder if there is some crafty person out there ready to fill the void, and start up a store that would attract people from all over? We'll have to wait and see.

In the meantime, Wal*Marts got bullets!! Hunting season will be a lot more convenient this year.

2 comments:

  1. The Fabric Stash in Charlton carries a wide variety of quilting fabrics and sewing supplies. Frangelique Custom Window Treatments in Southbridge carries home interior fabrics and trims. These businesses are locally owned by residents who live and enjoy our town. It would be great if someone heard your message and set up shop in Sturbridge. In the meantime a short drive to either of these shops may meet one's needs and in turn sustain businesses owned by those who live in and support Sturbridge. If we want choices we all have to remind ourselves that shopping local is imperative.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Penny,

    Thanks! The readers will appreciate this information. And, I agree, 1000%, shopping locally, and supporting our local businesses is imperative.

    ReplyDelete



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