1 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:07,666 HI, I'M ERIC FORD FROM MADE 2 00:00:07,666 --> 00:00:07,866 HERE. 3 00:00:07,866 --> 00:00:10,033 VINCE FRANKE ALONG WITH NORTHERN 4 00:00:10,033 --> 00:00:12,600 VERMONT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN 5 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:13,633 THE VERMONT GOVERNMENT AND 6 00:00:13,633 --> 00:00:14,800 HISTORY CLASS TEAMED UP TO 7 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,200 CREATE THE FILM, JOHNSON, 8 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:18,533 STORIES FROM THE COMMUNITY. 9 00:00:18,533 --> 00:00:20,166 STUDENTS CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS 10 00:00:20,166 --> 00:00:22,333 WITH TOWN RESIDENTS AND COLLEGE 11 00:00:22,333 --> 00:00:24,566 ALUMNI AND CONTRIBUTED TO 12 00:00:24,566 --> 00:00:25,733 EDITING REVIEW SESSIONS FOR A 13 00:00:25,733 --> 00:00:28,333 FILM THAT IS PART STORY-TELLING 14 00:00:28,333 --> 00:00:29,600 AND PART HISTORICAL RECORD OF 15 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:31,333 THE TOWN OF JOHNSON. 16 00:00:31,333 --> 00:00:33,966 THE FILM FEATURES OVER 200 LOCAL 17 00:00:33,966 --> 00:00:35,466 HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS COMBINED 18 00:00:35,466 --> 00:00:37,133 WITH ON-CAMERA INTERVIEWS. 19 00:00:37,133 --> 00:00:38,666 YOU CAN WATCH THIS FILM AND 20 00:00:38,666 --> 00:00:45,733 SEVERAL MORE FROMFILM-MAKER 21 00:00:45,733 --> 00:00:47,300 VINCE FRANKE. 22 00:00:47,300 --> 00:00:49,100 ENJOY THE FILM AND THANKS FOR 23 00:00:49,100 --> 00:01:07,100 WATCHING. 24 00:01:07,100 --> 00:01:09,566 >> JOHNSON WAS A DESTINATION 25 00:01:09,566 --> 00:01:11,133 BEFORE THAT, THE PEOPLE IN THE 26 00:01:11,133 --> 00:01:12,566 OUTLYING AREA WOULD COME IN ON 27 00:01:12,566 --> 00:01:13,533 FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO GO SHOPPING. 28 00:01:13,533 --> 00:01:15,133 >> WE BECAME A VERY ACCEPTING 29 00:01:15,133 --> 00:01:15,400 COMMUNITY. 30 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:16,666 I THINK THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE 31 00:01:16,666 --> 00:01:19,633 THINGS ABOUT JOHNSON. 32 00:01:19,633 --> 00:01:20,700 IT'S A VERY ACCEPTING PLACE. 33 00:01:20,700 --> 00:01:23,266 WE'RE NOT JUDGMENTAL. 34 00:01:23,266 --> 00:01:24,133 >> THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT 35 00:01:24,133 --> 00:01:25,066 THINGS ABOUT THIS TOWN. 36 00:01:25,066 --> 00:01:26,233 JOHNSON HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY HOME, 37 00:01:26,233 --> 00:01:28,866 AND I GUESS I DON'T EVER FORESEE 38 00:01:28,866 --> 00:01:30,800 BEING ANYWHERE ELSE. 39 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,200 >> IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE WITHOUT 40 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:33,766 A DOUBT. 41 00:01:33,766 --> 00:01:37,766 I HAVE TO SAY THAT THROUGH THE 42 00:01:37,766 --> 00:01:39,100 YEARS, AND NOW, TOO, LOTS OF 43 00:01:39,100 --> 00:01:40,900 WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT I HAVE MET 44 00:01:40,900 --> 00:01:42,400 HERE, AND HAVE DONE THINGS WITH 45 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:51,666 AND HAVE JUST ENJOYED. 46 00:01:51,666 --> 00:01:53,633 >> SINCE BEING CHARTERED IN 47 00:01:53,633 --> 00:01:55,066 1792, JOHNSON HAS DEVELOPED INTO 48 00:01:55,066 --> 00:01:57,300 A RESILIENT AND COMPASSIONATE 49 00:01:57,300 --> 00:01:57,700 COMMUNITY. 50 00:01:57,700 --> 00:01:59,000 THE STORIES AND MEMORIES SHARED 51 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,100 IN THIS ORAL HISTORY PROVIDE A 52 00:02:01,100 --> 00:02:02,633 PEEK INTO THE PAST AND OFFER AS 53 00:02:02,633 --> 00:02:04,800 VIEW OF WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE FROM 54 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,000 BOTH A CENTURY AGO TO A FEW 55 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,133 YEARS AGO. 56 00:02:10,133 --> 00:02:11,300 STUDENTS IN THIS GOVERNMENT AND 57 00:02:11,300 --> 00:02:12,466 HISTORY CLASS AT JOHNSON STATE 58 00:02:12,466 --> 00:02:13,933 COLLEGE SET OUT AND INTERVIEWED 59 00:02:13,933 --> 00:02:15,933 MANY RESIDENTS TO CAPTURE THESE 60 00:02:15,933 --> 00:02:16,366 STORIES. 61 00:02:16,366 --> 00:02:18,066 WE HOPE TO PROVIDE A GLIMPSE 62 00:02:18,066 --> 00:02:19,866 INTO WHAT MAKES THE COMMUNITY SO 63 00:02:19,866 --> 00:02:22,966 SPECIAL. 64 00:02:22,966 --> 00:02:25,500 >> WE STARTED IN JOHNSON, AND SO 65 00:02:25,500 --> 00:02:27,066 FAR MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN IN 66 00:02:27,066 --> 00:02:27,766 JOHNSON. 67 00:02:27,766 --> 00:02:30,766 MY WHOLE CHILDHOOD WAS SPENT 68 00:02:30,766 --> 00:02:31,866 WITH MAIN STREET AS MY 69 00:02:31,866 --> 00:02:33,766 PLAYGROUND, AND EVERYBODY LIVED 70 00:02:33,766 --> 00:02:35,966 THE SAME WAY. 71 00:02:35,966 --> 00:02:37,466 WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT BUT WE ALSO 72 00:02:37,466 --> 00:02:40,166 DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE DID NOT 73 00:02:40,166 --> 00:02:44,666 HAVE, SO WE, WE JUST DIDN'T 74 00:02:44,666 --> 00:02:45,300 WORRY ABOUT LIFE. 75 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:46,633 THE PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, 76 00:02:46,633 --> 00:02:50,433 AT LEAST, WERE ALL EMPLOYED 77 00:02:50,433 --> 00:02:53,200 EITHER AT THE TOP MILL OR MINE 78 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:57,233 IN THAT INDUSTRY, OR OVER WHERE 79 00:02:57,233 --> 00:02:59,366 THEY WERE MAKING FLOORING OVER 80 00:02:59,366 --> 00:03:00,966 THERE INSTEAD OF SELLING 81 00:03:00,966 --> 00:03:02,000 BUILDING MATERIALS. 82 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,966 FOR FUN IT WAS MAKE YOUR OWN, 83 00:03:04,966 --> 00:03:11,400 LIKE MOST KIDS, THERE WAS AN OLD 84 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:12,300 FIELD WHERE THE MARKET IS NOW. 85 00:03:12,300 --> 00:03:13,800 AND IT WAS PRIVATELY OWNED, BUT 86 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,800 IT WAS A SORT OF A PUBLIC 87 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:18,766 PLAYGROUND OF ALL THE KIDS ON 88 00:03:18,766 --> 00:03:19,266 MAIN STREET. 89 00:03:19,266 --> 00:03:21,200 THAT BECAME OUR BALL DIAMOND, 90 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,100 AND ALSO BECAME OUR TRACK FOR 91 00:03:24,100 --> 00:03:24,833 RIDING BICYCLES. 92 00:03:24,833 --> 00:03:26,033 >> WE GREW UP TO GO. 93 00:03:26,033 --> 00:03:26,600 WE PLAYED TOGETHER. 94 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,666 WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT FOR TOYS, 95 00:03:29,666 --> 00:03:31,133 BUT YOU MADE DO WITH WHAT YOU 96 00:03:31,133 --> 00:03:31,400 HAD. 97 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:33,433 YOU PLAYED OUTDOORS AND HIDE AND 98 00:03:33,433 --> 00:03:34,400 SEEK, AND YOU MIGHT RIDE ON THE 99 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,266 HAY WAGON, YOU KNOW, OR ANYTHING 100 00:03:36,266 --> 00:03:38,700 LIKE THAT. 101 00:03:38,700 --> 00:03:40,933 >> FOR WINTER FUN, IT WAS 102 00:03:40,933 --> 00:03:43,366 SLEDDING AND SKATING AND THAT 103 00:03:43,366 --> 00:03:47,366 SORT OF THING, BUT ALWAYS, ALL 104 00:03:47,366 --> 00:03:48,533 OUR FUN ACTIVITIES WERE 105 00:03:48,533 --> 00:03:50,533 OUTDOORS. 106 00:03:50,533 --> 00:03:52,333 WE WOULD GO TO THE TOP OF THE 107 00:03:52,333 --> 00:03:54,366 HILL AND SLIDE RIGHT DOWN ON 108 00:03:54,366 --> 00:03:57,766 ROUTE 15 AND MAKE THE TURN AND 109 00:03:57,766 --> 00:03:59,433 GO UP TO THE BRIDGE, THERE WAS 110 00:03:59,433 --> 00:04:01,333 NEVER ANY ACCIDENTS BECAUSE 111 00:04:01,333 --> 00:04:03,400 THERE WERE VERY FEW CARS ON 112 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:04,966 ROUTE 15. 113 00:04:04,966 --> 00:04:06,266 >> AROUND 1955 MY FATHER BUILT 114 00:04:06,266 --> 00:04:08,400 THAT, THE HOMEMADE ROPE TOE. 115 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,666 ALL THE KIDS FROM SCHOOL SKIED 116 00:04:10,666 --> 00:04:11,766 THERE IN THE WINTERTIME. 117 00:04:11,766 --> 00:04:13,400 AN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND A REAR-END 118 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:17,200 OF A MODEL A FOR A DRIVE 119 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:17,466 MECHANISM. 120 00:04:17,466 --> 00:04:18,833 AND WE WOULD GET PULLED UP THE 121 00:04:18,833 --> 00:04:20,800 HILL BEHIND THE HOUSE. 122 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,400 A PRETTY STEEP GRADE. 123 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:24,766 >> THERE ALWAYS WAS A GROUP OF 124 00:04:24,766 --> 00:04:27,966 PEOPLE THAT WERE INTERESTED IN 125 00:04:27,966 --> 00:04:29,233 MAKING THINGS HAPPEN IN THIS 126 00:04:29,233 --> 00:04:31,533 TOWN. 127 00:04:31,533 --> 00:04:35,466 OVER THE YEARS, OF HUBERT BEARD, 128 00:04:35,466 --> 00:04:38,033 WHO HAD THE HARDWARE STORE, IT 129 00:04:38,033 --> 00:04:39,066 WAS RENOWNED IN NORTHERN VERMONT 130 00:04:39,066 --> 00:04:40,566 BECAUSE IF HE DID NOT HAVE IT, 131 00:04:40,566 --> 00:04:42,600 NOBODY HAD IT. 132 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,033 AND HE RAN MOVIES FOR KIDS AND 133 00:04:45,033 --> 00:04:46,600 HAD A BOWLING ALLEY GOING ON 134 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,933 DOWN WHERE THE ART SCHOOL IS. 135 00:04:49,933 --> 00:04:51,533 >> JOHNSON HAS NO SHORTAGE OF 136 00:04:51,533 --> 00:04:53,500 POWERFUL STORIES OF PEOPLE IN 137 00:04:53,500 --> 00:04:59,166 THE AREA WORKING SELF IT ISLY -G 138 00:04:59,166 --> 00:05:02,033 SELFLESSLY IN THE COMMUNITY. 139 00:05:02,033 --> 00:05:03,133 WE HEARD STORIES FAR INTO 140 00:05:03,133 --> 00:05:03,766 JOHNSON'S PAST. 141 00:05:03,766 --> 00:05:05,866 THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN AND SOME 142 00:05:05,866 --> 00:05:07,333 OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK HAVE 143 00:05:07,333 --> 00:05:10,600 MADE THE TOWN STRONG 144 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:12,866 UNFORTUNATELY HAVE BEEN SOME OF 145 00:05:12,866 --> 00:05:16,133 THE TRAGEDIES THAT HAVE STRUCK 146 00:05:16,133 --> 00:05:18,700 THE TOWN. 147 00:05:18,700 --> 00:05:20,733 PROBABLY THE MOST NOTED ONE, OF 148 00:05:20,733 --> 00:05:24,666 COURSE, IS THE 1927 FLOOD. 149 00:05:24,666 --> 00:05:27,833 LIKE MOST DISASTERS OF THAT 150 00:05:27,833 --> 00:05:30,566 TYPE, ESPECIALLY IN VERMONT, 151 00:05:30,566 --> 00:05:33,700 SEEMED TO BRING PEOPLE OF THE 152 00:05:33,700 --> 00:05:37,100 AREA TOGETHER. 153 00:05:37,100 --> 00:05:41,033 CERTAINLY, THE 1927 FLOOD DID 154 00:05:41,033 --> 00:05:41,233 THAT. 155 00:05:41,233 --> 00:05:43,733 LIVES WERE LOST, PROPERTY WAS 156 00:05:43,733 --> 00:05:47,100 LOST, AND PUBLIC PROPERTIES LIKE 157 00:05:47,100 --> 00:05:50,700 HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES AND POWER 158 00:05:50,700 --> 00:05:53,366 STATIONS AND ALL OF THAT STUFF 159 00:05:53,366 --> 00:05:55,300 WERE DESTROYED IN THE 1927 160 00:05:55,300 --> 00:05:55,500 FLOOD. 161 00:05:55,500 --> 00:05:57,733 IT HAD TO BE REBUILT. 162 00:05:57,733 --> 00:05:59,766 AND IT WAS FROM NEIGHBORING -- 163 00:05:59,766 --> 00:06:02,533 PEOPLE OF NEIGHBORING TOWNS AS 164 00:06:02,533 --> 00:06:04,966 WELL AS THE RESIDENTS RECOVERING 165 00:06:04,966 --> 00:06:08,233 FROM THE INITIAL DISASTER. 166 00:06:08,233 --> 00:06:09,966 THAT REALLY MADE THE TOWN REALLY 167 00:06:09,966 --> 00:06:12,566 STRONG. 168 00:06:12,566 --> 00:06:14,766 THE STRENGTH CREATED WAS LIVED 169 00:06:14,766 --> 00:06:16,433 ON, AND DRAWN FROM, FOR A NUMBER 170 00:06:16,433 --> 00:06:18,900 OF YEARS AFTER THE FLOOD. 171 00:06:18,900 --> 00:06:21,466 THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, I THINK, 172 00:06:21,466 --> 00:06:24,166 MADE THE COMMUNITY EVERY TIME 173 00:06:24,166 --> 00:06:25,933 STRONGER THAN IT HAD BEEN PRIOR 174 00:06:25,933 --> 00:06:27,466 TO THE EVENT. 175 00:06:27,466 --> 00:06:29,466 IN RESPONSE TO THE 1927 FLOOD 176 00:06:29,466 --> 00:06:31,300 DEFINES MANY COMMUNITIES IN 177 00:06:31,300 --> 00:06:31,766 VERMONT. 178 00:06:31,766 --> 00:06:33,333 THE JOHNSON COMMUNITY HAS ROOTS 179 00:06:33,333 --> 00:06:37,366 THAT GO BACK FARTHER THAN 1927. 180 00:06:37,366 --> 00:06:44,566 >> THE MILL, OWNER, WAS NOT 181 00:06:44,566 --> 00:06:48,000 INITIALLY STARTED TO PRODUCE 182 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:49,233 FABRIC. 183 00:06:49,233 --> 00:06:54,066 WHEN THE MILL STARTED IT WAS 184 00:06:54,066 --> 00:06:59,133 STARTED TO, MOSTLY TO PRODUCE 185 00:06:59,133 --> 00:07:02,266 THIS BECAUSE FOR A LOT OF THE 186 00:07:02,266 --> 00:07:03,966 SHEEP THAT WERE AROUND, THERE 187 00:07:03,966 --> 00:07:07,366 WAS A LARGE POPULATION OF SHEEP 188 00:07:07,366 --> 00:07:09,300 IN THE AREA, AND THE WORLD 189 00:07:09,300 --> 00:07:12,133 NEEDED TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE 190 00:07:12,133 --> 00:07:13,366 SHEEP WOOL NEEDED TO BE CLEANED 191 00:07:13,366 --> 00:07:16,533 AND CART AND HAD TURNED INTO A 192 00:07:16,533 --> 00:07:19,200 YARN THAT COULD BE USED. 193 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:23,533 THAT'S, REALLY, WHAT GENERATED 194 00:07:23,533 --> 00:07:26,466 THE START OF THE WOOL MILL. 195 00:07:26,466 --> 00:07:31,666 IN MY YEARS IN THE 1950s, THEY 196 00:07:31,666 --> 00:07:35,300 WERE MOVING AND MAKING THEIR OWN 197 00:07:35,300 --> 00:07:39,066 FABRIC WITH THE PLANT IN BACK OF 198 00:07:39,066 --> 00:07:42,233 THE SEWING PART OF THE JOHNSON 199 00:07:42,233 --> 00:07:44,366 MILL FACTORY AND KNOWN ALL OVER, 200 00:07:44,366 --> 00:07:46,233 OF COURSE, FOR THEIR PANTS THAT 201 00:07:46,233 --> 00:07:47,900 THEY MADE. 202 00:07:47,900 --> 00:07:49,333 IF YOU TALKED TO A LOT OF THE 203 00:07:49,333 --> 00:07:51,000 WOMEN THAT ENDED UP WORKING 204 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:52,733 THERE, THEY DIDN'T WORK AT THE 205 00:07:52,733 --> 00:07:55,200 WOOLEN MILL, THEY WORK AT THE 206 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:56,233 PANTS FACTORY. 207 00:07:56,233 --> 00:07:58,733 >> THIS WAS, BASICALLY, A 208 00:07:58,733 --> 00:08:04,400 FARMING SOCIETY, AND WE HAD OUR 209 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:04,833 MILLS. 210 00:08:04,833 --> 00:08:09,466 THE SAW MILLS, LUMBER MILLS, 211 00:08:09,466 --> 00:08:10,666 ASBESTOS MILL. 212 00:08:10,666 --> 00:08:13,000 >> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF MILLS 213 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,366 ON THE RIVER. 214 00:08:15,366 --> 00:08:17,233 FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A RAKE 215 00:08:17,233 --> 00:08:20,100 SHOP UP IN EAST JOHNSON ON THE 216 00:08:20,100 --> 00:08:21,733 RIVER USING A LOT OF THE POWER 217 00:08:21,733 --> 00:08:24,133 OF THE RIVER, THAT PRODUCED AS 218 00:08:24,133 --> 00:08:26,533 MANY AS 50,000 A YEAR ALL MADE 219 00:08:26,533 --> 00:08:27,966 BY HAND AND SHIPPED ALL OVER THE 220 00:08:27,966 --> 00:08:29,366 COUNTRY. 221 00:08:29,366 --> 00:08:31,100 THAT'S WHEN HAYING, A LOT OF IT 222 00:08:31,100 --> 00:08:32,000 WAS DONE BY HAND. 223 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,000 TO ME, IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE 224 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:38,733 THAT MOST OF THOSE SMALL MILLS 225 00:08:38,733 --> 00:08:40,266 WERE ON THE RIVER. 226 00:08:40,266 --> 00:08:42,166 THE WATER OF THE RIVER WAS 227 00:08:42,166 --> 00:08:44,400 EASIER TO CONTROL THAN THE WATER 228 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:48,133 OF THE LAMAR RIVER SO THE GUY 229 00:08:48,133 --> 00:08:50,700 HUNT RIVER BECAME REALLY 230 00:08:50,700 --> 00:08:52,066 IMPORTANT TO THE INDUSTRIAL 231 00:08:52,066 --> 00:08:54,633 GROWTH OF THE WATER-POWERED 232 00:08:54,633 --> 00:08:56,333 MILLS IN JOHNSON. 233 00:08:56,333 --> 00:09:00,100 >> YOU KNOW, THE SAW MILL OVER 234 00:09:00,100 --> 00:09:03,466 HERE, YOU KNOW, IN THE EARLY, 235 00:09:03,466 --> 00:09:08,533 EARLY TEENS THROUGH 1950s WITH 236 00:09:08,533 --> 00:09:11,866 THE HARDWOOD FLOORING MILL, AND 237 00:09:11,866 --> 00:09:14,700 THEY SHIPPED HARDWOOD FLOORING 238 00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:16,166 ALL OVER THE WORLD. 239 00:09:16,166 --> 00:09:17,100 THE RAILROAD KEPT THIS TOWN 240 00:09:17,100 --> 00:09:20,633 GOING BACK IN THE 1920s AND 241 00:09:20,633 --> 00:09:21,100 1930s. 242 00:09:21,100 --> 00:09:23,466 EVERYTHING WAS SHIPPED BY 243 00:09:23,466 --> 00:09:23,733 RAILROAD. 244 00:09:23,733 --> 00:09:26,300 >> OUR MAIL CAME, ALL CAME BY 245 00:09:26,300 --> 00:09:27,700 RAIL, AND AT THE TIME, AND IT 246 00:09:27,700 --> 00:09:28,900 WAS PICKED UP ABOUT THREE TIMES 247 00:09:28,900 --> 00:09:31,166 A DAY. 248 00:09:31,166 --> 00:09:36,000 THE MILL WAS A REAL ECONOMIC 249 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:37,233 DRIVER OF JOHNSON FOR A NUMBER 250 00:09:37,233 --> 00:09:39,100 OF YEARS. 251 00:09:39,100 --> 00:09:40,466 >> MY FATHER, HE WENT THERE TO 252 00:09:40,466 --> 00:09:44,933 WORK FOR TWO WEEKS, TEMPORARY 253 00:09:44,933 --> 00:09:46,900 HELP, AND HE RETIRED 45 YEARS 254 00:09:46,900 --> 00:09:49,100 LATER AT THE END OF THE TWO 255 00:09:49,100 --> 00:09:51,266 WEEKS. 256 00:09:51,266 --> 00:09:53,133 BUT, THAT WAS COMMON, AND ALL OF 257 00:09:53,133 --> 00:09:56,466 MY FRIENDS' PARENTS, MOST OF 258 00:09:56,466 --> 00:09:58,233 THEM WERE AT THE MILL. 259 00:09:58,233 --> 00:10:00,466 THE MILL, AT THAT TIME, BETWEEN 260 00:10:00,466 --> 00:10:03,000 THE MILL AND THE MINE, WERE 261 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:08,266 PROBABLY EMPLOYING 75 TO 90 262 00:10:08,266 --> 00:10:12,200 PEOPLE, AND WORKING, LONG BEFORE 263 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:13,800 MY FATHER RETIRED, THEY WERE 264 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:15,266 WORKING THREE SHIFTS. 265 00:10:15,266 --> 00:10:16,866 WORKING 24 HOURS A DAY. 266 00:10:16,866 --> 00:10:20,233 AT LEAST FIVE TO SIX DAYS A 267 00:10:20,233 --> 00:10:20,566 WEEK. 268 00:10:20,566 --> 00:10:22,400 AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE 269 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:24,766 TOUT MILL WAS PRODUCING ENOUGH 270 00:10:24,766 --> 00:10:27,266 MATERIAL THAT WAS VERY 271 00:10:27,266 --> 00:10:28,733 SUPPORTIVE OF THE RAILROAD, SO 272 00:10:28,733 --> 00:10:32,200 THE RAILROAD WAS VERY ACTIVE 273 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,366 THANKS TO BOTH THE ASBESTOS MINE 274 00:10:34,366 --> 00:10:38,266 AND THE ASBESTOS SHIPPING, AND 275 00:10:38,266 --> 00:10:40,500 THE TOUT MILL. 276 00:10:40,500 --> 00:10:43,266 AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, AS 277 00:10:43,266 --> 00:10:45,300 THOSE INDUSTRIES STARTED TO 278 00:10:45,300 --> 00:10:48,633 CLOSE UP ALONG THE RAIL LINE, SO 279 00:10:48,633 --> 00:10:52,033 DID THE RAIL. 280 00:10:52,033 --> 00:10:55,100 JOHNSON WENT THROUGH MANY PHASES 281 00:10:55,100 --> 00:10:56,166 OF CHANGE. 282 00:10:56,166 --> 00:10:57,833 THE COMMUNITY HATS STRUGGLED AT 283 00:10:57,833 --> 00:11:04,266 TIMES, AND IT'S ALSO BEEN A VERY 284 00:11:04,266 --> 00:11:05,433 PROSPEROUS PLACE TO DO BUSINESS 285 00:11:05,433 --> 00:11:09,766 FROM TIME TO TIME, AND THE WHOLE 286 00:11:09,766 --> 00:11:14,900 CURRENT OF THE TOWN CHANGED FROM 287 00:11:14,900 --> 00:11:16,266 AGRICULTURE TO THE INDUSTRIAL 288 00:11:16,266 --> 00:11:18,866 TOWN TO WHAT'S NOW THE EDUCATION 289 00:11:18,866 --> 00:11:21,766 AND ARTS. 290 00:11:21,766 --> 00:11:23,300 >> WHEN CONSIDERING THE 291 00:11:23,300 --> 00:11:24,533 INFLUENCES OF COMMUNITY AND 292 00:11:24,533 --> 00:11:26,166 INDUSTRY ON THE VILLAGE OF 293 00:11:26,166 --> 00:11:28,533 JOHNSON, ONE CAN'T SEPARATE HOW 294 00:11:28,533 --> 00:11:30,633 INTERTWINED AND INFLUENTIAL THE 295 00:11:30,633 --> 00:11:31,400 EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE 296 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:32,500 BEEN. 297 00:11:32,500 --> 00:11:34,333 IN 1928, THE NORMAL SCHOOL 298 00:11:34,333 --> 00:11:35,833 OPENED FOCUSING ON TEACHER 299 00:11:35,833 --> 00:11:37,666 TRAINING PROGRAMS AND QUICKLY 300 00:11:37,666 --> 00:11:39,366 MODERNIZED BECOMING KNOWN AS THE 301 00:11:39,366 --> 00:11:43,666 JOHNSON TEACHER COLLEGE IN 1947. 302 00:11:43,666 --> 00:11:48,833 THE COLLEGE WAS MADE -- IT MADE 303 00:11:48,833 --> 00:11:50,533 JOHNSON WHAT IT IS TODAY. 304 00:11:50,533 --> 00:11:52,233 THERE IS SOMETHING TO SAY FOR A 305 00:11:52,233 --> 00:11:56,066 SMALL TOWN THAT HAS A COLLEGE 306 00:11:56,066 --> 00:11:59,333 AND WITH THE RELATIONSHIP, AND 307 00:11:59,333 --> 00:12:01,100 THE COLLEGES TRIED TO PROMOTE 308 00:12:01,100 --> 00:12:01,500 THAT. 309 00:12:01,500 --> 00:12:03,033 THE RELATIONSHIP, YOU KNOW, 310 00:12:03,033 --> 00:12:04,100 SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE HAS BEEN A 311 00:12:04,100 --> 00:12:04,700 GOOD ONE. 312 00:12:04,700 --> 00:12:08,033 >> I CAME TO JOHNSON IN 1952 TO 313 00:12:08,033 --> 00:12:10,566 BE A STUDENT AT THE COLLEGE. 314 00:12:10,566 --> 00:12:12,433 I GREW UP IN WATERVILLE, 315 00:12:12,433 --> 00:12:14,933 ACTUALLY, AND THAT WAS REALLY 316 00:12:14,933 --> 00:12:17,900 QUITE DIFFERENT THAN IT IS 317 00:12:17,900 --> 00:12:19,033 TODAY. 318 00:12:19,033 --> 00:12:21,533 THE McCLELLAN BUILDING IS 319 00:12:21,533 --> 00:12:22,766 WHERE THE COLLEGE WAS. 320 00:12:22,766 --> 00:12:24,400 ALL OF OUR CLASSES WERE IN 321 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:26,566 THERE. 322 00:12:26,566 --> 00:12:28,200 THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE AND THE 323 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,433 DEED'S OFFICE, THE OFFICES WERE 324 00:12:31,433 --> 00:12:34,633 THERE, AND WHEN WE HAD MEALS, WE 325 00:12:34,633 --> 00:12:37,800 HAD TO GO DOWN THE HILL AND OVER 326 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:42,333 TO MAIN STREET HERE TO THE HALL, 327 00:12:42,333 --> 00:12:44,800 IT'S NOT THE HALL MORE, BUT IT 328 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,033 IS ALWAYS THAT TO ME, AND ONE OF 329 00:12:47,033 --> 00:12:50,633 THE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT 330 00:12:50,633 --> 00:12:51,900 CHESS-A-MORE HALL, EATING THERE, 331 00:12:51,900 --> 00:12:53,433 AND AT EACH TABLE THERE WERE 332 00:12:53,433 --> 00:12:54,800 SMALL TABLES AND AT EACH TABLE 333 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:56,233 THERE WAS A HOST AND HOSTESS, 334 00:12:56,233 --> 00:12:57,766 AND ONE OF THE HOUSEMOTHERS, 335 00:12:57,766 --> 00:13:00,366 EACH SEMESTER, POSTED THIS 336 00:13:00,366 --> 00:13:01,733 LOVELY BIG POSTER THAT TOLD 337 00:13:01,733 --> 00:13:06,400 WHERE PEOPLE WERE TO SIT AND WHO 338 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,666 WAS HOST AND HOSTESS AT EACH 339 00:13:08,666 --> 00:13:09,866 TABLE, A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN 340 00:13:09,866 --> 00:13:11,433 WHAT HAPPENS NOW IN THE DINING 341 00:13:11,433 --> 00:13:12,133 HALL NOW, RIGHT. 342 00:13:12,133 --> 00:13:14,500 WE COULD GO DOWN THE STREET, BUT 343 00:13:14,500 --> 00:13:16,366 WE HAD TO BE BACK IN THE DORM. 344 00:13:16,366 --> 00:13:17,866 EVERYBODY HAD TO BE IN, 345 00:13:17,866 --> 00:13:19,300 CERTAINLY, BY 10:00, I THINK, 346 00:13:19,300 --> 00:13:22,200 YOU COULD GO DOWN FOR A PERIOD 347 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:23,166 OF TIME BUT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO 348 00:13:23,166 --> 00:13:28,866 BE STUDYING, SO. 349 00:13:28,866 --> 00:13:30,233 >> I MET A PERSON FROM JOHNSON 350 00:13:30,233 --> 00:13:31,033 STATE COLLEGE. 351 00:13:31,033 --> 00:13:34,066 I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE DEAN, 352 00:13:34,066 --> 00:13:36,100 INVITED, ASKED ME TO COME, AND I 353 00:13:36,100 --> 00:13:36,966 ACCEPTED. 354 00:13:36,966 --> 00:13:40,300 I CAME IN 1958, AND THERE WERE 355 00:13:40,300 --> 00:13:40,933 13 FACULTY MEMBERS. 356 00:13:40,933 --> 00:13:43,033 WE DID A LOT OF THINGS TOGETHER. 357 00:13:43,033 --> 00:13:44,833 YOU COULDN'T HAVE A PARTY 358 00:13:44,833 --> 00:13:46,733 ADMISSION, BUT INVITED EVERYONE. 359 00:13:46,733 --> 00:13:49,966 MY WIFE AND I DECIDED AFTER TWO 360 00:13:49,966 --> 00:13:51,733 NIGHTS THAT WE WERE, WE WOULD 361 00:13:51,733 --> 00:13:53,700 NEVER LEAVE VERMONT, SO THAT'S 362 00:13:53,700 --> 00:13:56,933 THE IMPRESSION THAT JOHN HAD ON 363 00:13:56,933 --> 00:13:57,300 US. 364 00:13:57,300 --> 00:14:00,133 YOU REALLY FELT YOU WERE AN 365 00:14:00,133 --> 00:14:03,900 IMPORTANT PART OF THE COLLEGE, 366 00:14:03,900 --> 00:14:04,200 ITSELF. 367 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:08,200 THAT MEANT A LOT. 368 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:10,500 ANY FACULTY MEMBER OR STUDENT 369 00:14:10,500 --> 00:14:13,466 THAT CAME, THE STUDENTS WOULD 370 00:14:13,466 --> 00:14:15,100 OFTEN SAY THE JOHNSON STATE 371 00:14:15,100 --> 00:14:18,233 COLLEGE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN 372 00:14:18,233 --> 00:14:18,433 THEM. 373 00:14:18,433 --> 00:14:20,400 >> I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH 374 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,266 SCHOOL, MAYBE A JUNIOR IN HIGH 375 00:14:22,266 --> 00:14:25,300 SCHOOL, LIKE 1954 WAS THE, WHERE 376 00:14:25,300 --> 00:14:28,033 THE COLLEGE STARTED TO GO UP ON 377 00:14:28,033 --> 00:14:29,100 THE HILL, THE MARTIN HALL BEING 378 00:14:29,100 --> 00:14:30,166 THE FIRST BUILDING THAT THEY 379 00:14:30,166 --> 00:14:33,733 CONSTRUCTED UP THERE ON THE FARM 380 00:14:33,733 --> 00:14:34,300 PROPERTY. 381 00:14:34,300 --> 00:14:36,766 THAT WAS, AT THAT TIME, IT, AND 382 00:14:36,766 --> 00:14:39,566 THEY PURCHASED IT AND STARTED 383 00:14:39,566 --> 00:14:41,700 MOVING EVERYTHING UP ON THE 384 00:14:41,700 --> 00:14:41,900 HILL. 385 00:14:41,900 --> 00:14:44,466 A LOT OF FACTORIES STARTED 386 00:14:44,466 --> 00:14:47,000 TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE G.I. 387 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,733 BILL TO GO ONTO GET FURTHER 388 00:14:49,733 --> 00:14:50,133 EDUCATION. 389 00:14:50,133 --> 00:14:53,000 A NUMBER OF THEM CAME TO 390 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,533 JOHNSON, WHICH WAS THEN THE 391 00:14:54,533 --> 00:14:57,200 JOHNSON TEACHER'S COLLEGE AT 392 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,200 THAT TIME. 393 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:04,066 AND THEN A LOT OF THOSE STARTED 394 00:15:04,066 --> 00:15:06,200 GETTING DOWNTOWN HOUSING, AND 395 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:10,400 THAT'S REALLY THE FIRST TIME 396 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:12,500 THAT THE STUDENTS STARTED LIVING 397 00:15:12,500 --> 00:15:13,066 OFF THE CAMPUS. 398 00:15:13,066 --> 00:15:16,500 >> I LIVED IN JOHNSON SINCE 399 00:15:16,500 --> 00:15:16,700 1966. 400 00:15:16,700 --> 00:15:19,866 WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, AT THE 401 00:15:19,866 --> 00:15:21,266 FIRST ELECTION THAT I WENT TO, 402 00:15:21,266 --> 00:15:23,833 TO REGISTER AND SIGN IN TO GET A 403 00:15:23,833 --> 00:15:25,066 BALLOT, THEY AUTOMATICALLY GAVE 404 00:15:25,066 --> 00:15:27,633 ME A REPUBLICAN BALLOT. 405 00:15:27,633 --> 00:15:29,633 WELL, I DREW BACK AND I STILL 406 00:15:29,633 --> 00:15:31,300 REMEMBER THE MAN LAUGHING, AND I 407 00:15:31,300 --> 00:15:34,066 SAID, I AM SORRY, MISTER, BUT I 408 00:15:34,066 --> 00:15:36,933 NEED ANOTHER BALLOT, AND HE WAS 409 00:15:36,933 --> 00:15:40,166 LIKE WHAT? 410 00:15:40,166 --> 00:15:42,200 >> THERE WERE TWO YEARS OF MY 411 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:42,900 LIFE HERE. 412 00:15:42,900 --> 00:15:46,633 I HAD THE EARLY PART WHERE I HAD 413 00:15:46,633 --> 00:15:48,333 MY HUSBAND AND THE CHILDREN, AND 414 00:15:48,333 --> 00:15:51,600 WE HAD A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, 415 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,433 REALLY VERY, VERY FULL LIFE 416 00:15:54,433 --> 00:15:54,633 THEN. 417 00:15:54,633 --> 00:15:56,066 I THINK THAT THE LATE 1960s 418 00:15:56,066 --> 00:15:58,966 AND THE 1970s WERE REALLY -- 419 00:15:58,966 --> 00:16:01,700 IT WAS WHEN THE COLLEGE WAS 420 00:16:01,700 --> 00:16:04,766 GROWING AND EXCITING BECAUSE OF 421 00:16:04,766 --> 00:16:08,266 THE GROWTH AND SO FORTH. 422 00:16:08,266 --> 00:16:11,800 I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT 423 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:13,066 HAPPENED DURING THOSE PERIODS, 424 00:16:13,066 --> 00:16:14,233 WELL, THE GROWTH OF THE 425 00:16:14,233 --> 00:16:15,133 BUILDINGS AND SO FORTH, THAT 426 00:16:15,133 --> 00:16:18,400 TYPE OF THING, BUT STUDENTS, AS 427 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:19,033 WELL. 428 00:16:19,033 --> 00:16:21,266 >> I LIVED IN WHAT WAS CALLED 429 00:16:21,266 --> 00:16:23,600 THE DOMES, AND THAT'S WHAT IT 430 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,600 LITERALLY WAS, WAS A CLOSET HUT, 431 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,066 AND IT LOOKED LIKE AN IGLOO, BUT 432 00:16:29,066 --> 00:16:30,433 THERE WERE BUILDINGS, GOVERNORS 433 00:16:30,433 --> 00:16:32,366 AND SENATORS AT THAT TIME, AND 434 00:16:32,366 --> 00:16:34,600 LIKE I SAID, I WORKED AT THE 435 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,166 DINER WASHING DISHES, AND THE 436 00:16:38,166 --> 00:16:39,000 CARPENTERS AND THE OTHERS 437 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,133 WORKING THERE, THE CONCRETE GUYS 438 00:16:42,133 --> 00:16:43,333 WOULD COME DOWN, AND THEY WOULD 439 00:16:43,333 --> 00:16:48,633 BE LINED UP BEHIND THE COUNTER 440 00:16:48,633 --> 00:16:49,733 STOOLS, AND AS SOON AS SOMEONE 441 00:16:49,733 --> 00:16:51,366 GOT DONE EATING, THEY WERE GONE, 442 00:16:51,366 --> 00:16:52,800 AND THEY SAT DOWN, AND SO THERE 443 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:54,733 WAS A BIG PUSH TO GET THE 444 00:16:54,733 --> 00:16:55,666 COLLEGES DONE, AND THERE WERE A 445 00:16:55,666 --> 00:16:57,233 LOT OF PEOPLE HERE AT THAT TIME. 446 00:16:57,233 --> 00:16:58,133 ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STANDS 447 00:16:58,133 --> 00:17:01,533 OUT TO ME IS A LOT OF MY FRIENDS 448 00:17:01,533 --> 00:17:03,100 THAT I STILL HAVE TODAY CAME TO 449 00:17:03,100 --> 00:17:08,233 JOHNSON TO SCHOOL, AND LIKE ME, 450 00:17:08,233 --> 00:17:11,733 WHEN WE GRADUATED, WE STAYED 451 00:17:11,733 --> 00:17:13,400 HERE TO RAISE OUR FAMILIES HERE, 452 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:14,533 GOOD JOBS. 453 00:17:14,533 --> 00:17:15,966 LONG AND DIFFERENT 454 00:17:15,966 --> 00:17:17,266 ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE THE 455 00:17:17,266 --> 00:17:19,533 HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND A COUPLE 456 00:17:19,533 --> 00:17:21,200 OF DIFFERENT BOARDS OF THE 457 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,000 COLLEGE. 458 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:24,200 THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE FOOD 459 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:25,433 SHELF, AND I SEE FRIENDS ALL 460 00:17:25,433 --> 00:17:27,366 OVER TOWN INVOLVED IN THINGS. 461 00:17:27,366 --> 00:17:28,966 >> THIS SENSE OF COMMUNITY HAS 462 00:17:28,966 --> 00:17:30,833 SURFACED THROUGH MANY STORIES OF 463 00:17:30,833 --> 00:17:32,866 LIVING IN JOHNSON. 464 00:17:32,866 --> 00:17:34,633 PERHAPS, THE ATMOSPHERE OF AN 465 00:17:34,633 --> 00:17:35,800 ENTIRE COMMUNITY CAN BE SEEN 466 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,100 THROUGH JUST ONE STORY. 467 00:17:38,100 --> 00:17:42,333 >> MY HUSBAND PASSED AWAY IN 468 00:17:42,333 --> 00:17:43,233 1982 -- 1983, RATHER. 469 00:17:43,233 --> 00:17:45,033 HE HAD BRAIN CANCER. 470 00:17:45,033 --> 00:17:48,666 THE WHOLE TOWN CAME TOGETHER FOR 471 00:17:48,666 --> 00:17:48,866 THAT. 472 00:17:48,866 --> 00:17:49,966 HE WAS ILL IN HIS LIVING ROOM 473 00:17:49,966 --> 00:17:51,000 FOR NINE MONTHS. 474 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:54,066 I HAD TO COOK SUPPER. 475 00:17:54,066 --> 00:17:55,733 THE CHURCH LADIES FROM ALL THE 476 00:17:55,733 --> 00:17:57,566 CHURCHES DID IT, THE MINISTERS 477 00:17:57,566 --> 00:17:58,633 FROM ALL THE CHURCHES CAME. 478 00:17:58,633 --> 00:17:59,866 WE WERE BURNING WOOD THEN. 479 00:17:59,866 --> 00:18:01,466 I HAD SEVERAL WOOD STOVES, I HAD 480 00:18:01,466 --> 00:18:02,533 AN OLD COOK STOVE IN THE 481 00:18:02,533 --> 00:18:04,733 KITCHEN, AND I HAD A WOOD STOVE 482 00:18:04,733 --> 00:18:04,933 HERE. 483 00:18:04,933 --> 00:18:08,200 AND WE WERE BURNING WOOD, AND WE 484 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:09,433 WERE RUNNING LOW, AND I JUST 485 00:18:09,433 --> 00:18:10,966 HAPPENED TO MENTION TO A 486 00:18:10,966 --> 00:18:12,300 NEIGHBOR, I GOT A LOOK AROUND. 487 00:18:12,300 --> 00:18:14,466 DO YOU KNOW WHO IS SELLING WOOD? 488 00:18:14,466 --> 00:18:15,866 I HAVE GOT TO GET SOME WOOD. 489 00:18:15,866 --> 00:18:17,900 THE NEXT THING ISSUE, ONE OF THE 490 00:18:17,900 --> 00:18:20,500 STUDENTS THAT I HAD HAD IN 491 00:18:20,500 --> 00:18:21,833 SCHOOL PULLED UP AND DROPPED OFF 492 00:18:21,833 --> 00:18:23,700 WOOD ON MY PORCH. 493 00:18:23,700 --> 00:18:26,733 I DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT 494 00:18:26,733 --> 00:18:27,366 THAT. 495 00:18:27,366 --> 00:18:28,633 WELL, WHEN THE TIME CAME, THERE 496 00:18:28,633 --> 00:18:31,600 WAS A DAY HENRY MANCHESTER FROM 497 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:33,500 THE MANCHESTER LUMBER GAVE ALL 498 00:18:33,500 --> 00:18:37,333 HIS EQUIPMENT AND HIS DRIVERS, 499 00:18:37,333 --> 00:18:39,200 HOWARD FROM THE MILL CLEARED 500 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:41,866 LAND UP THERE, AND HAD LOGGERS 501 00:18:41,866 --> 00:18:42,566 COME IN. 502 00:18:42,566 --> 00:18:45,766 A LOT OF LOGGERS IN NORTHERN 503 00:18:45,766 --> 00:18:47,133 VERMONT PROBABLY GOTTEN BY THE 504 00:18:47,133 --> 00:18:49,466 MANCHESTER FAMILY, VOLUNTEERED, 505 00:18:49,466 --> 00:18:51,733 EVERYBODY IN TOWN SHOWED UP. 506 00:18:51,733 --> 00:18:52,900 THERE WERE PICKUP TRUCKS THAT 507 00:18:52,900 --> 00:18:55,666 WENT A QUARTER OF A MILE DOWN 508 00:18:55,666 --> 00:18:57,400 THE ROAD, ALMOST A QUARTER OF A 509 00:18:57,400 --> 00:18:58,166 MILE, I WOULD SAY. 510 00:18:58,166 --> 00:19:00,733 MY YARD WAS FULL OF THEM. 511 00:19:00,733 --> 00:19:04,200 88 PEOPLE SHOWED, AND WHEN THE 512 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:08,000 END OF THE DAY HAPPENED THERE 513 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:09,933 WERE 28 CORDS OF WOOD TAPED IN 514 00:19:09,933 --> 00:19:10,666 MY BACKYARD. 515 00:19:10,666 --> 00:19:11,933 THE CHURCH LADIES MADE 516 00:19:11,933 --> 00:19:12,233 SANDWICHES. 517 00:19:12,233 --> 00:19:13,233 THIS IS WHAT I AM TELLING YOU 518 00:19:13,233 --> 00:19:14,066 ABOUT JOHNSON. 519 00:19:14,066 --> 00:19:19,833 IT HAS A HEART. 520 00:19:19,833 --> 00:19:21,100 >> OVER THE YEARS, THERE HAS 521 00:19:21,100 --> 00:19:22,500 BEEN A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP 522 00:19:22,500 --> 00:19:24,400 BETWEEN THE COLLEGE AND THE 523 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:25,766 COMMUNITY WITH MANY PEOPLE 524 00:19:25,766 --> 00:19:27,633 MOVING TO JOHNSON FOR AN 525 00:19:27,633 --> 00:19:29,400 EDUCATION AND THEN STAYING AND 526 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,333 GIVING BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY. 527 00:19:31,333 --> 00:19:34,833 >> I CAME TO JOHNSON AS A JUNIOR 528 00:19:34,833 --> 00:19:39,833 FOR MY LAST TWO YEARS, IN 1973. 529 00:19:39,833 --> 00:19:43,233 JOHNSON, I ALWAYS HARKEN BACK TO 530 00:19:43,233 --> 00:19:45,633 MY COLLEGE THERE, AND THE 531 00:19:45,633 --> 00:19:48,766 FRIENDS THAT I MADE ARE LIFELONG 532 00:19:48,766 --> 00:19:49,133 FRIENDS. 533 00:19:49,133 --> 00:19:50,766 I STILL SEE THEM ALL THE TIME. 534 00:19:50,766 --> 00:19:52,766 AND THAT'S THE MOMENT THAT I 535 00:19:52,766 --> 00:19:53,833 CHERISH THE MOST, THE PEOPLE% 536 00:19:53,833 --> 00:19:55,700 THAT I MET, THE TEACHERS THAT I 537 00:19:55,700 --> 00:19:57,266 HAD THERE. 538 00:19:57,266 --> 00:19:59,666 >> MY CONNECTION TO THE TOWN AND 539 00:19:59,666 --> 00:20:02,733 TO JOHNSON STATE IS I WAS A 540 00:20:02,733 --> 00:20:05,066 STUDENT HERE, ACTUALLY, IN 1978 541 00:20:05,066 --> 00:20:07,400 TO 1980, CAME HERE AS A VERY 542 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:11,300 LONG 17-YEAR-OLD, AND MY DESIRE 543 00:20:11,300 --> 00:20:13,066 WAS TO MAKE THE FIELD HOCKEY 544 00:20:13,066 --> 00:20:14,233 TEAM, AND CAME HERE MY FIRST 545 00:20:14,233 --> 00:20:16,000 YEAR AND MADE THE FIELD HOCKEY 546 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:17,933 TEAM AND ENDED UP SEVENTH IN THE 547 00:20:17,933 --> 00:20:19,766 NATION IN DIVISION THREE FIELD 548 00:20:19,766 --> 00:20:20,000 HOCKEY. 549 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:21,866 I WAS A BUSINESS MANAGER MAJOR. 550 00:20:21,866 --> 00:20:23,733 CAME BACK FROM THE PEACE CORPS 551 00:20:23,733 --> 00:20:25,700 AND LOOKED FOR A JOB, OPENED UP 552 00:20:25,700 --> 00:20:27,900 THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS AND 553 00:20:27,900 --> 00:20:29,833 SAW THE COORDINATOR AT JOHNSON 554 00:20:29,833 --> 00:20:30,033 STATE. 555 00:20:30,033 --> 00:20:31,933 THIS IS IN 1990, SO I APPLIED 556 00:20:31,933 --> 00:20:34,300 FOR THAT POSITION, GOT THE 557 00:20:34,300 --> 00:20:35,133 POSITION, THOUGHT I WOULD STAY 558 00:20:35,133 --> 00:20:37,366 HERE FOR A YEAR OR TWO. 559 00:20:37,366 --> 00:20:40,333 NOW IT'S BEEN 26 YEARS AT 560 00:20:40,333 --> 00:20:43,666 JOHNSON STATE COLLEGE. 561 00:20:43,666 --> 00:20:45,533 AND I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF 562 00:20:45,533 --> 00:20:47,300 WORKING WITH HUNDREDS AND 563 00:20:47,300 --> 00:20:49,933 THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO WANT 564 00:20:49,933 --> 00:20:51,166 TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER 565 00:20:51,166 --> 00:20:52,466 PLACE. 566 00:20:52,466 --> 00:20:55,033 IT'S JUST BEEN A PURE JOY SO 567 00:20:55,033 --> 00:20:56,733 THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 26 568 00:20:56,733 --> 00:20:57,933 YEARS. 569 00:20:57,933 --> 00:20:58,633 >> THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COLLEGE 570 00:20:58,633 --> 00:21:02,866 AND COMMUNITY, IT'S A VERY, IT'S 571 00:21:02,866 --> 00:21:06,700 A RELATIONSHIP THAT PRODUCES A 572 00:21:06,700 --> 00:21:07,600 LOT OF ENERGY. 573 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:08,966 STUDENTS STRONGLY CONNECTED 574 00:21:08,966 --> 00:21:10,733 USING FAMILY SERVICES, WITH THE 575 00:21:10,733 --> 00:21:13,300 JOHNSON FOOD SHELF, THE FAMILY 576 00:21:13,300 --> 00:21:16,500 CENTER, THE UNION BANK, THE 577 00:21:16,500 --> 00:21:18,733 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE LOCAL 578 00:21:18,733 --> 00:21:19,033 SKI RESORTS. 579 00:21:19,033 --> 00:21:21,000 I THINK THE COLLEGE IS VERY 580 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:24,433 CONNECTED IN THE TOWN OF JOHNSON 581 00:21:24,433 --> 00:21:25,866 AND THE STATE OF VERMONT AND 582 00:21:25,866 --> 00:21:28,400 BEYOND, IT'S VERY MUCH A 583 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,033 REGIONAL RELATIONSHIP. 584 00:21:31,033 --> 00:21:33,200 FOR EXAMPLE, THE SERVE PROGRAM 585 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,233 CONNECTS AND HELPS SUPPORT AND 586 00:21:36,233 --> 00:21:37,266 THE ORGANIZATIONS HELP TO 587 00:21:37,266 --> 00:21:40,566 SUPPORT THE STUDENTS TO LEARN 588 00:21:40,566 --> 00:21:42,600 VIS-A-VIS THE DOING, THE 589 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:43,433 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. 590 00:21:43,433 --> 00:21:47,333 THE PROGRAM HAS DONE THINGS LIKE 591 00:21:47,333 --> 00:21:49,266 WELL, THANKSGIVING BASKETS FOR 592 00:21:49,266 --> 00:21:51,533 THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE, WELL, 593 00:21:51,533 --> 00:21:53,200 ONE OF THE RECENT THINGS THAT I 594 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:54,933 HEAR, I HELPED TO PLANT TREES OR 595 00:21:54,933 --> 00:21:57,500 TO TAKE CARE OF THE TREES WITH 596 00:21:57,500 --> 00:21:59,900 THE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE, 597 00:21:59,900 --> 00:22:01,566 HELPED THE SENIORS AT DIFFERENT 598 00:22:01,566 --> 00:22:03,300 TIMES, AND I THINK THAT HAS 599 00:22:03,300 --> 00:22:05,733 PROVIDED SOME CONNECTIONS TOO, 600 00:22:05,733 --> 00:22:08,100 FOR PEOPLE, AND AGAIN, IT'S 601 00:22:08,100 --> 00:22:09,366 GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER THAT 602 00:22:09,366 --> 00:22:11,266 MAKES IT IMPORTANT. 603 00:22:11,266 --> 00:22:12,333 >> I THINK THAT THE FIRST TIME 604 00:22:12,333 --> 00:22:15,700 THAT I CAME TO VISIT THE CAMPUS, 605 00:22:15,700 --> 00:22:18,100 I WAS SHOCKED THAT HOW PLEASANT 606 00:22:18,100 --> 00:22:19,933 AND PEACEFUL THINGS WERE AND HOW 607 00:22:19,933 --> 00:22:21,400 POLITE INDIVIDUALS WERE WHEN I 608 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:25,133 WAS HERE, SO IT WAS A GREAT 609 00:22:25,133 --> 00:22:25,333 TIME. 610 00:22:25,333 --> 00:22:27,200 IT WAS A GREAT TIME WHEN I WAS 611 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:28,166 HERE, AS A STUDENT ATHLETE. 612 00:22:28,166 --> 00:22:30,200 I THINK THE BEST PART WAS THE 613 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:32,666 ABILITY TO DO MORE THAN JUST BE 614 00:22:32,666 --> 00:22:35,700 A BASKETBALL PLAYER SO I WAS 615 00:22:35,700 --> 00:22:37,233 INVOLVED IN THE STUDENT ATHLETIC 616 00:22:37,233 --> 00:22:39,833 ADVISADVISORY COMMITTEE. 617 00:22:39,833 --> 00:22:42,133 DURING THAT TIME WE HAD A COUPLE 618 00:22:42,133 --> 00:22:45,466 OF EVENTS THAT WE HOSTED, AND WE 619 00:22:45,466 --> 00:22:46,800 CONNECTED WITH NORWICH 620 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:47,600 UNIVERSITY IN DOING SOMETHING 621 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:49,866 CALLED A DROP AND SWAP THAT 622 00:22:49,866 --> 00:22:51,700 STILL TAKE PLACE HERE AT JOHNSON 623 00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:54,266 WHERE WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE 624 00:22:54,266 --> 00:22:55,933 INDIVIDUALS BRING CLOTHES TO 625 00:22:55,933 --> 00:22:57,566 JOHNSON, PEOPLE FROM NORTHERN 626 00:22:57,566 --> 00:22:58,666 VERMONT, DROPPED CLOTHES OFF AT 627 00:22:58,666 --> 00:23:00,366 JOHNSON, AND WE WERE WASHING AND 628 00:23:00,366 --> 00:23:01,766 CLEANING THE CLOTHES, AND THEN 629 00:23:01,766 --> 00:23:03,533 WE WOULD GIVE THE CLOTHES AWAY 630 00:23:03,533 --> 00:23:04,866 TO ANYONE WHO NEEDED THEM THE IN 631 00:23:04,866 --> 00:23:05,733 THE CASE DAY. 632 00:23:05,733 --> 00:23:08,900 SO, I THINK THAT MY SENIOR YEAR 633 00:23:08,900 --> 00:23:10,466 WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAD 634 00:23:10,466 --> 00:23:12,933 AT JOHNSON STATE, AND IT WAS A 635 00:23:12,933 --> 00:23:15,033 BIG EVENT, AND IT STILL IS TO 636 00:23:15,033 --> 00:23:16,100 THIS DAY, SO I THINK THAT WAS 637 00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:20,933 ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS. 638 00:23:20,933 --> 00:23:22,033 >> I'VE DEVELOPED A HIGHER LEVEL 639 00:23:22,033 --> 00:23:23,133 OF PASSION FOR THE GAME OF 640 00:23:23,133 --> 00:23:25,033 BASKETBALL, AND ALL THE LESSONS 641 00:23:25,033 --> 00:23:26,500 I TRY TO TEACH FROM BASKETBALL 642 00:23:26,500 --> 00:23:28,633 CAME FROM MY DEGREE HERE, 643 00:23:28,633 --> 00:23:30,166 BASICALLY, IN ANTHROPOLOGY AND 644 00:23:30,166 --> 00:23:30,633 SOCIOLOGY. 645 00:23:30,633 --> 00:23:35,766 SO, YOU KNOW, FOR ME WHY NOT BE 646 00:23:35,766 --> 00:23:37,633 AT JOHNSON, YOU KNOW, WHY NOT BE 647 00:23:37,633 --> 00:23:39,700 AT A PLACE WHERE I CAN BRING 648 00:23:39,700 --> 00:23:42,033 INDIVIDUALS FROM URBAN, SUBURBAN 649 00:23:42,033 --> 00:23:44,200 AND RURAL AREAS TOGETHER FOR A 650 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:46,133 COMMON GOAL. 651 00:23:46,133 --> 00:23:48,833 YOU KNOW ONE, AND WE LANDED IN 652 00:23:48,833 --> 00:23:51,433 THIS VERY DIFFERENT PLACE FROM 653 00:23:51,433 --> 00:23:53,200 CHICAGO AND DETROIT, PLACES THAT 654 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:58,466 I HAD KNOWN GROWING UP, AND BUT, 655 00:23:58,466 --> 00:24:01,666 WHAT I DISCOVERED VERY QUICKLY 656 00:24:01,666 --> 00:24:06,400 WAS THE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE. 657 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:07,266 WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT WHAT 658 00:24:07,266 --> 00:24:08,700 WAS GOING ON IN THE AREA, AND 659 00:24:08,700 --> 00:24:09,700 NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT IT BUT 660 00:24:09,700 --> 00:24:11,666 TALKING ABOUT HOW TO GET 661 00:24:11,666 --> 00:24:14,166 INVOLVED AND CONNECTED, AND WHAT 662 00:24:14,166 --> 00:24:17,033 I HAVE SEEN IN JOHNSON IS THAT 663 00:24:17,033 --> 00:24:19,233 THEY ARE ALWAYS -- THERE ALWAYS 664 00:24:19,233 --> 00:24:21,200 SEEMS TO BE A FOCUS ON 665 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:22,133 EDUCATION, COLLEGE BEING AROUND 666 00:24:22,133 --> 00:24:25,300 FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. 667 00:24:25,300 --> 00:24:29,500 TO HAVE, YOU KNOW Y THE ART 668 00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:35,033 EDUCATION AND STUDIO CENTER, AND 669 00:24:35,033 --> 00:24:36,833 BEING HERE ALMOST 50 YEARS, AND 670 00:24:36,833 --> 00:24:37,566 LONG-TIME RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE 671 00:24:37,566 --> 00:24:38,800 WHO CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY 672 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:39,700 GENERATIONS THEY GO BACK LIVING 673 00:24:39,700 --> 00:24:41,733 IN JOHNSON, IT'S ALSO A 674 00:24:41,733 --> 00:24:42,400 COMMUNITY THAT REALLY 675 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:43,233 APPRECIATES AND VALUES PEOPLE 676 00:24:43,233 --> 00:24:45,666 WHO ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH, 677 00:24:45,666 --> 00:24:48,266 STOPPING BY FOR A VISIT, SO THAT 678 00:24:48,266 --> 00:24:50,733 ENERGY AND THE FACT THAT 679 00:24:50,733 --> 00:24:51,600 OFTENTIMES IT COMES TOGETHER 680 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:55,500 RATHER THAN BEING SOMETHING THAT 681 00:24:55,500 --> 00:24:56,566 BUTTS UP AGAINST EACH OTHER IT, 682 00:24:56,566 --> 00:24:57,733 MAKES FOR A REALLY DYNAMIC AND 683 00:24:57,733 --> 00:24:59,066 WHAT I FIND EXCITING COMMUNITY 684 00:24:59,066 --> 00:25:01,333 TO BE A PART OF. 685 00:25:01,333 --> 00:25:02,833 >> THE CONNECTIONS WITH JOHNSON 686 00:25:02,833 --> 00:25:05,433 STATE AND LARAWAY ARE MANY, AND 687 00:25:05,433 --> 00:25:07,433 THEY ARE DEEP AND STRONG. 688 00:25:07,433 --> 00:25:09,633 MOST OF THEM, THERE IS NO 689 00:25:09,633 --> 00:25:09,900 CONTRACT. 690 00:25:09,900 --> 00:25:11,566 THERE IS NO FORMAL 691 00:25:11,566 --> 00:25:12,300 DOCUMENTATION, IT'S JUST 692 00:25:12,300 --> 00:25:14,000 CONNECTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE 693 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:15,033 MADE OVER THE YEARS. 694 00:25:15,033 --> 00:25:17,200 WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED SHOOTER 695 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:19,000 FOR GOALS, AND WHAT THAT 696 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:24,366 BASICALLY IS, IS THAT IT ALLOWS 697 00:25:24,366 --> 00:25:26,733 BASICALLY THE KIDS TO COME UP TO 698 00:25:26,733 --> 00:25:28,800 JOHNSON STATE COLLEGE. 699 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:30,500 IT'S LIKE THREE OR FOUR 700 00:25:30,500 --> 00:25:32,333 THURSDAYS GOING THE SPRING 701 00:25:32,333 --> 00:25:33,800 SEMESTER WHERE THEY COME UP AND 702 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:35,700 OUR BASKETBALL PLAYERS CONNECT 703 00:25:35,700 --> 00:25:36,933 WITH THE STUDENTS THERE, AND 704 00:25:36,933 --> 00:25:39,166 BASICALLY, THEY DO A LOT OF FUN 705 00:25:39,166 --> 00:25:40,933 DRILLS AND SKILLS THINGS, AND 706 00:25:40,933 --> 00:25:42,200 PLAY A COUPLE GAMES AND STUFF 707 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:44,733 LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S REALLY AN 708 00:25:44,733 --> 00:25:45,733 OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE 709 00:25:45,733 --> 00:25:48,466 INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE 710 00:25:48,466 --> 00:25:49,433 COMMUNICATION WITH GUYS THAT, TO 711 00:25:49,433 --> 00:25:50,966 SOME DEGREE, THEY MIGHT LOOK UP 712 00:25:50,966 --> 00:25:53,333 TO, AND AT THE END OF THE 713 00:25:53,333 --> 00:25:54,566 SEASON, THE COACHES BRING OUT 714 00:25:54,566 --> 00:25:57,266 SOME OF THE OLD JERSEYS AND WE 715 00:25:57,266 --> 00:26:01,400 GO INTO THE VARSITY GYM AND HAVE 716 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:03,533 A GAME BETWEEN A COUPLE OF 717 00:26:03,533 --> 00:26:05,133 TEAMS, SCOREBOARD AND GET THE 718 00:26:05,133 --> 00:26:06,333 MUSIC GOING AND THE COACHES DO 719 00:26:06,333 --> 00:26:09,900 SOME PLAY-BY-PLAY, AND IT'S A 720 00:26:09,900 --> 00:26:11,300 REALLY EXCITING EVENT, AND WE 721 00:26:11,300 --> 00:26:13,200 ENCOURAGE THOSE CONNECTIONS 722 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:14,333 BECAUSE IT GIVES OUR YOUNG 723 00:26:14,333 --> 00:26:15,700 PEOPLE A CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT 724 00:26:15,700 --> 00:26:19,466 WHAT LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL 725 00:26:19,466 --> 00:26:21,166 LOOKED LIKE AND START IMAGINING 726 00:26:21,166 --> 00:26:22,366 THEMSELVES MAKING THAT 727 00:26:22,366 --> 00:26:25,066 CONNECTION UP THERE. 728 00:26:25,066 --> 00:26:26,900 >> IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE 729 00:26:26,900 --> 00:26:29,033 STUDENT OPTIONS, IN JULY OF 730 00:26:29,033 --> 00:26:30,900 2018, JOHNSON STATE COLLEGE 731 00:26:30,900 --> 00:26:31,900 UNIFIED WITH LINDEN STATE 732 00:26:31,900 --> 00:26:35,400 COLLEGE TO FORM NORTHERN VERMONT 733 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:35,766 UNIVERSITY. 734 00:26:35,766 --> 00:26:37,966 WHILE NVU IS ONE UNIVERSITY, THE 735 00:26:37,966 --> 00:26:39,500 CAMPUSES STILL HAVE THEIR 736 00:26:39,500 --> 00:26:41,433 DISTINCT IDENTITIES ALLOWING 737 00:26:41,433 --> 00:26:42,600 STUDENTS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES 738 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:43,800 WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING THE 739 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:45,033 STRONG BOND AND THE 740 00:26:45,033 --> 00:26:46,333 RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE 741 00:26:46,333 --> 00:26:48,566 UNIVERSITY ORGANIZATIONS, 742 00:26:48,566 --> 00:26:49,866 PROGRAMS, AND STUDENTS WITH THE 743 00:26:49,866 --> 00:26:51,266 LOCAL COMMUNITY. 744 00:26:51,266 --> 00:26:52,800 IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE HISTORY 745 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:54,833 OF THE VILLAGE OF JOHNSON, AND 746 00:26:54,833 --> 00:26:56,333 THE CONNECTION TO ITS DIFFERENT 747 00:26:56,333 --> 00:26:58,000 SCHOOLS, THERE IS AN ONGOING 748 00:26:58,000 --> 00:26:59,633 THREAD THAT SEEMS TO WEAVE ITS 749 00:26:59,633 --> 00:27:02,900 WAY INTO ALL THESE STORIES. 750 00:27:02,900 --> 00:27:04,166 REGARDLESS OF GOOD TIMES OR BAD, 751 00:27:04,166 --> 00:27:06,066 THIS COMMUNITY HALLS ALWAYS BEEN 752 00:27:06,066 --> 00:27:08,000 THERE FOR EACH OTHER AND SEEMS 753 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:09,400 TO BE POISED TO KEEP THE STRONG 754 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:11,500 BONDS AND TRADITIONS GOING INTO 755 00:27:11,500 --> 00:27:33,833 THE FUTURE. 756 00:27:33,833 --> 00:27:35,933 VERMONT PBS, PARTNERING WITH 757 00:27:35,933 --> 00:27:37,566 LOCAL FILM-MAKERS TO BRING YOU 758 00:27:37,566 --> 00:27:38,933 STORIES MADE HERE. 759 00:27:38,933 --> 00:27:43,266 FOR MORE, VISIT VERMONTPBS.ORG.