Wanted: Green Mountain Memories

By Susan BushPrint Story | Email Story
Workers of the former Green Mountain Race Track on Route 7 in Pownal, Vt. are encouraged to share their track experiences with the Pownal Historical Society for an exhibit to be included as part of the 2005 Vermont History Expo.
Pownal, Vt. - If memories of mucking stalls or dispensing racing bet winnings are close to the heart, members of the Pownal Historical Society would like to chat. The former Green Mountain Race Track has made history and headlines throughout the past 43 years, and the town's historical society members plan to share the site's colorful past during the 2005 Vermont History Expo. The event is scheduled for June 25-26 at the Tunbridge fairgrounds in Tunbridge, Vt.. While the property's saga is interesting on its own, historical society members are asking that former race track employees enhance the exhibit by sharing their own personal recollections and anecdotes, said member Joyce Held earlier this week. "We want to make this special," Held said. "We want to include the stories and memories of the people who worked there, no matter what their job or when they were employed at the track." A potential list of former track workers is extensive. The site opened for horse racing in the early 1960s, and for a brief time, the track raced dogs and horses. In 1976, horse racing was abandoned in favor of greyhound racing, and the property closed in the early 1990s. After the track closed to all racing, the site played host to events including Shriner's Bingo games and the Lollapalooza music festival. Businessman John C. Tiegtens of Clarksburg, Mass. bought the site at a public auction in 1992, and after several failed sales attempts, sold the property in 2004 to Progress Partners, Ltd. for about $1 million. While the track was in operation, people from the Berkshires and Southern Vermont worked in capacities including food and beverage servers, betting-window cashiers, racing announcers, cooks, maintenance workers, and additional occupations. Any former race track employee is welcome to share their memories about their job and the track itself, Held said. The goal is to bring the "behind the scenes, working track history to life," Held noted. Those interested in sharing their experiences are asked to call 802-823-5536 or send an e-mail to pownal@adelphia.net. The expo is expected to feature over 100 Vermont community historical societies, about 26 museums and about 20 service, conservation, and preservation groups. Information about the Vermont History Expo is available at www.vermonthistory.org/expo.
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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