It's Garbage Day!
44 degrees and pleasant.
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This is going to be a big post, so ...
first things first:
"Buster" is home! Blog readers had seen him as far away as Craigfoot Road, but then he appeared on Osborn Avenue and the story - which actually started out with two lost dogs - has had a happy ending!
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There's another story with a happy ending: it began nearly a hundred years ago, when Colonel William Cary Sanger built a "summer home" for his family atop the hill on the West side of town.
(Click to enlarge)
The last time that Carol and Stan Sambora had been in the building was when the Waterville Historical Society had a Hallowe'en party, there, in 1991 or '92. It stood empty, then; vandals had broken windows and ruined woodwork and this is what it looked like when Kathryn and Mark McLane came to live there three years ago.
(Clickable photos courtesy of Frank Carentz.)
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The Samboras went to see for themselves .......
........ joining the long line of "tourists" .....
.......... who waited for up to forty-five minutes .......
........ before paying their $2 admission fee (all of which went to the Waterville Fire Department whose members were in charge of traffic control and parking) and donning protective "booties" before going inside.
Yes. It's the same fireplace.
I didn't go inside - I'd had that pleasure a year or so ago - but roamed around outdoors, "people-watching." I was surprised that there were so few Watervillians in the line: at least so few that I recognized.
Later on, I talked with the Samboras: "It was gorgeous!" summed up Carol's reaction!
I'd seen Norm and Carol Tower there with their son, Mike: Carol said, "Fantastic; awesome!" and Norm remarking first that the carpentry was meticulous, then added, "It was an artistic experience!"
Ann Sally was there with her daughter, Theresa, and Elfie Goedeker. She spoke for all of them - just one word - "Overwhelming!"
Margaret and Ron Bornick came from Clinton for the preview tour. Ron is, himself, a master carpenter and both of them had been to the mansion back in the late 1980's when the Hall family was in residence and their choral troupe "Tapestry, the All-centuries Singers" had had formal photographs taken there. Ron's reaction: "Very impressive!"
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Another Open House will take place on Saturday, May 9th from 10 - 1.
*******
(Click to enlarge)
The last time that Carol and Stan Sambora had been in the building was when the Waterville Historical Society had a Hallowe'en party, there, in 1991 or '92. It stood empty, then; vandals had broken windows and ruined woodwork and this is what it looked like when Kathryn and Mark McLane came to live there three years ago.
(Clickable photos courtesy of Frank Carentz.)
******
In the last several months, hundreds of internet users have visited the Sanger Mansion website, and the recent advertisement on Ebay, shaking their heads in amazement over the apparent transformation that has taken place.
The Samboras went to see for themselves .......
........ joining the long line of "tourists" .....
.......... who waited for up to forty-five minutes .......
........ before paying their $2 admission fee (all of which went to the Waterville Fire Department whose members were in charge of traffic control and parking) and donning protective "booties" before going inside.
Yes. It's the same fireplace.
I didn't go inside - I'd had that pleasure a year or so ago - but roamed around outdoors, "people-watching." I was surprised that there were so few Watervillians in the line: at least so few that I recognized.
Later on, I talked with the Samboras: "It was gorgeous!" summed up Carol's reaction!
I'd seen Norm and Carol Tower there with their son, Mike: Carol said, "Fantastic; awesome!" and Norm remarking first that the carpentry was meticulous, then added, "It was an artistic experience!"
Ann Sally was there with her daughter, Theresa, and Elfie Goedeker. She spoke for all of them - just one word - "Overwhelming!"
Margaret and Ron Bornick came from Clinton for the preview tour. Ron is, himself, a master carpenter and both of them had been to the mansion back in the late 1980's when the Hall family was in residence and their choral troupe "Tapestry, the All-centuries Singers" had had formal photographs taken there. Ron's reaction: "Very impressive!"
"Thank You!"
I received this E-note from Kathryn McLane, yesterday afternoon:
"I thought you (and your readers) might like to know that yesterday's open house was very successful. We were amazed at the turnout. We had 642 adults come through with their $2 for the Waterville Fire Dept! The line snaked out the drive the whole time. The WFD volunteers were awesome with their parking and crowd control...and they say they're going to improve it next week (on May 9)! Their help was essential and we're pleased that they got a nice donation yesterday.
Mark and I were both touched by how many people came up to us and said "Thank you" for fixing the house. One of the auctioneer employees mentioned that it felt like church - people were "reverential". Not reverential about us, obviously, but about the house and its history! A better-behaved crowd of people you will not find.
So, a big "thank you" back to everyone for being so nice."
- and then she added: "I saw many "re-unions" in my living room! People who obviously hadn't seen each other in a long time spotted one another across a crowded room and, boom, they were hugging and laughing. Happened at least 15 times."
"I thought you (and your readers) might like to know that yesterday's open house was very successful. We were amazed at the turnout. We had 642 adults come through with their $2 for the Waterville Fire Dept! The line snaked out the drive the whole time. The WFD volunteers were awesome with their parking and crowd control...and they say they're going to improve it next week (on May 9)! Their help was essential and we're pleased that they got a nice donation yesterday.
Mark and I were both touched by how many people came up to us and said "Thank you" for fixing the house. One of the auctioneer employees mentioned that it felt like church - people were "reverential". Not reverential about us, obviously, but about the house and its history! A better-behaved crowd of people you will not find.
So, a big "thank you" back to everyone for being so nice."
- and then she added: "I saw many "re-unions" in my living room! People who obviously hadn't seen each other in a long time spotted one another across a crowded room and, boom, they were hugging and laughing. Happened at least 15 times."
************************
Another Open House will take place on Saturday, May 9th from 10 - 1.
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ELSEWHERE
Sharon Cossette has sent this note and lovely picture:
"I am sharing with you a picture from my niece's wedding- Katie Plante, formally from Waterville. Katie is the daughter of Cathy Plante and Doug Plante. Katie married Travis Smith on Saturday, May 2, in Crozet, Virginia, in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. Luckily many of Katie's family (including myself) were able to attend this event. Katie and Travis reside in California.
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....... and this beautiful photograph of Bluebirds
came from a reader in Brookfield.
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came from a reader in Brookfield.
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Quite a number of families around the village observed May Day in traditional manner: small bouquets or baskets with goodies and even beribboned bottles of (shall we say) "Spring Spirits!"
******
From Memorial Park School,
a special message to Veterans
and those currently serving in the Military:
(Please click the image to enlarge.)
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If you click on this image you'll see that the Dobmeiers of "Frog Park Herbs" are doing their share of Garden Club weed-work at the high school!
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At the same time that they were working ........
............ nearly 400 hungry people lined up for barbecued chicken, ribs and steak with all the fixings prepared by "Outback Steakhouse" at a benefit sponsored by the Brothertown Music Boosters, yesterday! Proceeds will be used to help defray student expenses when the WCS Marching Band, Color Guard and Jazz Ensemble travel to Orlando Florida to perform at Disney World in July.
************************************
The sun is shining!
Have a great day!
******
From Memorial Park School,
a special message to Veterans
and those currently serving in the Military:
(Please click the image to enlarge.)**************************
If you click on this image you'll see that the Dobmeiers of "Frog Park Herbs" are doing their share of Garden Club weed-work at the high school!
*****************************
At the same time that they were working ........
............ nearly 400 hungry people lined up for barbecued chicken, ribs and steak with all the fixings prepared by "Outback Steakhouse" at a benefit sponsored by the Brothertown Music Boosters, yesterday! Proceeds will be used to help defray student expenses when the WCS Marching Band, Color Guard and Jazz Ensemble travel to Orlando Florida to perform at Disney World in July.
************************************
The sun is shining!
Have a great day!
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