Someone in an online forum said that Turners Falls doesn’t need a new library because people could just drive over to Greenfield and use their wonderful new library. That comment made us remember residents from years ago who toiled long hours in the factories, mills, and cutlery, but had the generosity of spirit and vision to build the churches, social clubs, granges, and libraries that enriched the community not only for themselves and their children, but for future generations. We are still reaping the benefits of their generosity and vision.
Do we not have the same capacity to build something for our community now and into the future? As we remember, after the economic and cultural heyday of Turners Falls, the downtown became a quiet and depressed place, but there’s a new generation of citizens who are currently taking risks and reinvesting in the community. The results of this were evident last week when the town was bustling with families enjoying the shops, library, park, and bike path. There was a time when some residents were opposed to investing in a skatepark, but look at it now — it’s the most used feature of Unity Park. A main motivator for us to get involved in the creation of the skatepark was the downtown kids from Turners who don’t have the means to be driven elsewhere to recreate.
Providing access to enriching places and activities is again why we are enthusiastically supporting the drive for a new library downtown — a place that can be used by everyone free of charge. The new library will be in the heart of the activity — between our fabulous Great Falls Discovery Center and The Country Creemee — what could be better? Downtown residents will be able to walk there, and people with disabilities will finally have the same access and ability to check out the offerings, use a computer, enjoy a workshop, or read by a window. It will be a jewel in our downtown and something to be proud of. It’s time to honor the past and invest in the future. Montague: Let’s make this happen!
Sita Lang and Anne Jemas
Turners Falls