I left my heart in Miller's Falls and part of it was broken......

.....I haven't recovered from the sliced and diced economic history of the Miller's Falls tool manufacturing Company. Tears of rage, and tears of grief; but it's gone and we're moving on,.so let's take a look at the town: Miller's Falls 2009.

Hmm!

Come'on folks, we've got some work to do. I pulled into the town square at 6 pm and couldn't find the coffee shop - there was none. There was a liquor store - a tavern that didn't exude invitations; a noble structure on the southwest corner that had to be the old dry goods store - but it didn't seem occupied.

There was a marvelous brick mill structure north of the river, probably 20% of the space occupied. There was a very interesting house and barn as you headed toward Amherst - right around the corner of the town intersection. I saw enterprise with this occupant; but it still needs to forge it's presence.

Unlike Turner and Shelburne Falls, Millers Falls is handicapped by the layout of the town. One cannot really access the river because it's 60 feet below the town center. The road that runs through the town bends dramatically and winds it's way up the hill abbreviating any perspective of town panorama that helps anchor and define a sense of civic space.

60 million dollars of new infrastructure and all these blemishes go away. If only. The town of Lenox, Mass was funded last week by the state - to help augment and develop the infrastructure. That's Lenox, Mass, not Colrain, not Mattapan,.....Lenox! Lenox knows how to play the game at Beacon Hill; come on Miller's Falls - step up to the plate and talk it up.

When's the next selectmen's meeting? Let's put architecture and urban planning studies on the agenda. Call me at 617-752-1109.



We did pause to watch some Canadian Pacific freight go by; going north no doubt. Canadian Pacific freight; economic nostalgia stepping in to the new century; rails be praised.