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

Saturday, December 5, 2009

The Village That Slept Finally Awakens

It's alive!!!

Sturbridge has awoken from a decades old slumber over the past year. Signs of life are eeking out of doorways, utility poles, traffic islands, and front yards. From banners to the current Christmas wreaths hung from utility poles and Christmas Trees that are being decorated as you read this and placed about town.

Our town has come alive!

Last year, banners proclaiming "Welcome to Sturbridge" were hung from the utility poles along Main Street followed by flags. Back in the Spring area businesses put on their best face with wonderful gardens in front of their shops and competed to be the best. This summer, around the time of the PanMass Challenge, area businesses decorated the front of their business with cleverly designed bicycles, and in October scarecrows were all over Main Street. Now, it is Christmas, and the pulse of the waking village is beating stronger.

It's like tossing out the coveralls in favor of some new threads from a designer shop, or rearranging the furniture in your home. Getting away from the same 'ol, same 'ol to something totally new is like taking a breath from a mountain top--refreshing.

When things change for the better, even little things, it does wonders for those of us that are fortunate enough to be in the area to enjoy them. It shows signs of life. It also shows our visitors that we are community that is alive, and not sitting stagnant. It does make us more attractive.

I am sure that this is only the beginning. There is more to come in the coming year.

I can't wait.


No comments:

Post a Comment



Anonymous comments not accepted, and will be rejected. Please use your full name. Choose "Name / URL" and enter your name, and your name ONLY. Leave "URL" blank.