The Trolley museum in Shelburne Falls is hurting

Ok, so it's friday at 6 pm - what do you expect,...crowds?

Yes, but it is July - and revenues for this museum have to be next to nothing during the winter months. So it goes; a good idea - but competing with malls, monitors, television and internet is unfair competition.



Here's my old coach car rusting in the sun. Keep it for nostalgia or melt it down for I beams?



Technology preservationists weigh in please; these assets aren't generating any revenue and are losing value rusting in the sun. Send me a check for it's purchase and preservation and I'll keep it in escrow.

In Pownel VT, near Williamstown Massachusetts is the old racetrack and grandstand; a ghost of its former glory

Driving north on route 7 toward Bennington, you may spot the old racetrack and wonder,.......what happened? So I had to google it and of course the wiki provided:

Pownal was formerly the home of Green Mountain Race Track. Opened in 1963, the track offered both thoroughbred and standardbred horse racing until 1976, when thoroughbred racing ceased, being replaced by greyhound racing. One year later standardbred racing was discontinued, and the track thereafter featured only greyhound racing until closing altogether in 1992 amid increasing pressure from animal rights activists, who object to greyhound racing as cruel (Vermont banned the sport in 1995). Since closing as a racetrack, the site has hosted live events occasionally, including a rock concert in the Lollapalooza series in 1996 and antique car shows from 2005 to 2008. The 144-acre property has been purchased by commercial developers who have plans for it which have not yet been finalized, but are believed to include a mix of energy-efficient companies, a farmers' market facility, and facilities to accommodate large events.

What does the assessor project for this structure? "Won't last at this price?" Is it a fire trap? A code compliant nightmare? Is it structurally safe? How much money do you put into it to keep it going; especially when you fill it up 1% of the year and maybe 20% to 50% a few times in the summer? Is Pownell ready for a booze fest like the Kentucky Derby?

It probably hasn't gone down in price which is a shame; for that's what transformative economics is all about: someone getting it to move again.

The orange tile roof with the blue trim & broad overhangs, large glazed storefronts with vestibule: an identity-brand-name that we moderns can trust.

Urban studies and first generation food service supply chains?

How about useless perserverations number #271: wondering about the rise and fall of the Howard Johnson's restaurant chain and motor lodge puts me in a category I was hoping to avoid. Maybe I should try whittling.

Nevertheless.

It's 1965 and Dad has packed the big Ford Station wagon (the Country Squire)with all the nominal gear: beach chairs, coolers, fishing poles, the large thermos bottle and blue "transistor" radio. (Transistor radio's have to be a real kick for gen x, y & z).

We're off on vacation and this year we're going first class. Never mind Mildred's econo-cabins - the family isn't going to stay in that 100 sq ft. cracker box with the tiny fridge and the mouldy sheets: no we're staying at the Howard Johnson's motor lodge with get this,it has....."a swimming pool!"

Mom is happy because we're dining out at Howard Johnson's every night. What relief; because cooking in Mildred's econo cabins was challenging. She can manage the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches but trying to cook a chicken dinner on the hot plate on the cracked formica wasn't much fun for mom. (Maybe those stinky cabins caused mom's drinking problem.)

Howard Johnson's. Who was Howard and where is his shrine? Did he ever meet up with Ray Kroc? Was he the first to systemitize a menu? He took it right to the details if I recall; even the candy was wrapped in his brand.

What am I thinking? I'd better drop some of this forgotten urban history and volunteer some time at the North Adams, co-op.

"We got twenty eight flavors my friend" said the chipped tooth vendor in the white hat,."hurry up cus I got customer's waiting."

Bennington, Vermont

Last week we crossed the borders and toured the lake region of NH. At 4:45 on thursday afternoon, we shot up route 7 from Williamstown, Mass to visit Bennington VT. Bennington is hosting the moose fest this month. The town was quiet since it's main industry has retired to summer recess. A few college students walked the streets; some tourists were gawking at window displays - not much was stirring on this thursday afternoon - making it all the more pleasant to look at classical architectural details - hand drawn - a century ago. That brick fenestration was build by hand in 1868. Pure charm.














Bennington thrives based on a successful economic driver: higher education.

The "Shunpike": Route 2's sardonic comment -roadside sign

Heading east - right before you get to Florida, Mass, there's a picnic area and this cast metal sign on the left hand side of the road. The Shunpike legacy forged in iron; the footnotes in Berkshire history tell us this -the toll issue has been around for some time. It suggests that this tax model has sustained itself for 200 years and well into our present political quagmire. The "shun" pike, as in "shun" - as in to "deliberatly avoid" - suggests there are more reasons to drive route 2. Is it myth mixed with satire?

Route 2 will be now referred to as the "shunpike". Once again, subtle signs of the love/hate fest that goes between the western part of the state and the "heavy on government" eastern counterparts.






The Hawks family cemetery is located in the same picnic area. Berkshire settlers laid to rest here off route 2. Right past Charlemont and right before Florida - going west - a nice stop right off the Deerfield river. Check it out.

Hawley, Mass

Hawley Mass. Nested in the Berkshire hills are some modest rolling farmlands which incur very limited automotive traffic. Hawley is chartered as a town; but didn't seem to have a town square. There were farms and houses along route 8A but I couldn't find the intersection that typified a town square - a way station for coaches, a train depot, or Church congregation that would bring the traveling public to rest.

There in lies its' true beauty perhaps. A faint spell of freedom knowing it was you who were traveling through and you were on your own. Your impelled to pass through; observe the wonderful scenery for those fleeting moments and get yourself further up on the main highway for supplies. Precious unspoiled land in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

If the congested suburbs around Boston jeer at this lifestyle than so be it; we know who really loses at this game of property valuations - "relative to what" - they say.

Route 2 West and the Mohawk Trail: free health care while driving.

Had enough of urban traffic?

Then try this route - Route 2 going west out of the pioneer valley into the Berkshire hills that marry the Appalachian trail.

For the urban rat; this is sanctuary and therapy. Knowing that nature still dominates this part of the state is relieving in so many ways. There's real life out here; new growth forests and subtle charms along the old settler's highway.

Live it and breath it; it's more restorative than your medical prescriptions. This is free health care vested in these hills. But keep it a secret; or it won't last.

Route 2 West and the Mohawk Trail: free health care while driving.

Steam boilers, Cleaver Brooks, power plants and controls: “you don’t hear of any steam boilers exploding anymore, now do you buddy!”

"Can't live without em".

Upper left: that's Paul's homemade model of a steam boiler he built from spare steel parts - "just for kicks" he told me. It's got the basic components, the holding tank, the condensation tank, the valves, it's fired by coal in the central oven and blasts the flame forward and backward in the holding vessel to optimize heat and transfer to the water. There's the basic steam boiler theory manual as a reference in the power plant. Don't forget, you need a third class or second class fireman's license to stand guard with these boilers. Peterson's school of Engineering in South Boston will help you pass the test.

Then there's the outer jacket of the Cleaver Brooks steam boiler: it was cleaned last week; washed with water with all the rust particles swept out. Any corrosion on the gas jets are cleaned; inspected with a state license and assured of satifactory operations as the heating season kicks in on October 09.






Someone suggested to fire it up now: it was 50 degrees this morning - July 7th.<

The Getty Station in Rochester, New Hampshire and the first class proprietor named Michael.

Michael. Don't know his last name,...so it was Michael during the 48 hour automotive ordeal from Friday - the 3rd of July's - trek up to the lakes of New Hampshire.

After bitching about a half hour stop and go delay to get past a toll on 16 in NH (stalled in traffic for a fifty cent toll - toll collection is not good economics) the real crisis came when the power steering went down; and the temperature gauge shot up and we could smell burning rubber coming through the air intake from the engine. (What kind of Jack_ss would hold on to a 97 Explorer,....!)

The rotor to the water pump had seized, shearing the fan belt, and knocking out the power steering pump and the AC. Fortunately we were able to get off the highway and pull into Rochester NH. But then there was the down pour and the 20 minute wait to just look under the hood. The belt was shredded and the rendezvous to the lakes was beginning to look like a bust.

It's 6 pm, July 3rd 2009 - the thought of a "service station" a gasoline station that actually diagnoses and fixes automotive vehicles seemed like a remote possibility; the era of roadside service stations is gone.

After a quarter mile hike; there's a Getty station with it's garage bay doors open and a mechanic working on a Subaru. The guys name is Michael.

Michael is Lebanese. He was born in the US but has been back and forth to visit his father who still resides in Lebanon. His father is a high ranking officer in the Lebanese army and Michael mentioned that one Syrian faction made an attempt on his life about 10 years ago. His sister has her Bachelor's degree and a law degree and works in DC. One of his brother's is a doctor; his other brother has a professional degree in science and works between academics and government research.

His younger cousins are still in school pursuing master's degrees. Michael has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice as well.

He owns the Getty station and began fixing cars in his spare time in college.

"I like working here; I like owning the station and it's fun for me helping people for a living. I get to meet all kinds of people in this job."

The tendency to box in an individual to fit a certain profile is a common flaw of the mind. Every time we went off subject, Michael would shoot back with some observation or some comment about life, education, small business, or taxes: he knew more about life at 27 then your average US Congressional rep.

"I'm getting married in September,..Scottie,....she'from Russia; she is an excellent cook and once married she wants to open a restaurant in America."

Michael scrolled through his I phone photo library and there she was; smiling somewhere from a kitchen 10,000 miles away. The technology and the intimacy were driving the worrisome problems aside; the Friday night episode began to transcend the motor vehicle crisis stage and morph into a pub conversation. I had to grab at the good will and plug it into my holiday journey. The downside was turning upside and the stress waned a little. What would happen next?

The explorer had to sit it out in the Getty station over the weekend; but that didn't prevent Michael from calling me Saturday morning - the fourth of July - to explain that he found the problem and would fix it as soon as the automotive parts store opened on Monday. "Scottie, I will guarantee you,..it'll be done by Monday morning,"..he said to me on the phone,..as the parade in Wolfsboro had just come to an end. "Trust me man,..I'll take care of you."

Trust me man! I looked at the stars and stripes flag bunting on one of Wolfsboro's gift shops. "Trust me" said the stranger.

On Monday,..the sun in full bloom; the Getty station was buzzing with activity. Michael was cordial and beaming as he consoled a few beleaguered travelers; the vehicles sitting in the cue waiting for his assistant Tony's diagnosis.

"Scottie, I'm going to charge you 2 hours labor." "Your kidding, I said,...Michael, you're a business man,..you were dealing with this junk box on Friday night, you were working on it Saturday, you called for parts today and you fixed it in the last hour,...I figured a day,..or at least a four hour minimum."

"Nah,...it was only two hours to fix it,..I told you I would take care of you man,...I will charge you for parts and two hours labor."

"Michael, give me your address, this isn't the last time your going to hear from me."

We were back on the road at 10:30 am on Monday the sixth - traveling south on 95 - only to be diverted again by a gas tank trailer roll over on 95 south. Such is fate.

Fourth of July 2009 - there are hero's on the bottom of America' great economic grid; hero's that can rival angels with spirit and intent. If only the media could look down and see who's keeping it all together.

I'm going to send this guy something; help me out - I don't want to get too corny. What should I send him?

Turners falls needs some work on the main boulevard; it's coming up and it needs to be trimmed out with the hand of a good urban planner.

The Main Street "boulevard" in Turner's Falls has things that other communities don't have. It has a Thorton Wilder Main Street; a main street framed on both sides by big glass windows trimmed in red brick and Asher Benjamin's classic American mouldings; the universal language of Main Street's most popular architecture. It is authentic as well; not the details of nostalgic reproductions but the real thing. Clearly one can see a town's robust evolution as the falls began to shape the town's destiny by introducing hydroelectric power over 100 years ago.

There had to a be surge of construction for a few of these antiquated years; when the town imported immigrant labor to work the mills that finally had a free utility to drive wheels and pulleys at full capacity. The dry goods store expanded, the cotton goods were displayed, fresh eggs and poultry featured in the windows and a barber shop to push past the sweat and grime and option pride and fashion among the newcomers to the new world.

So what happens 100 years after the industrial expansion recedes? We know the story; the money runs dry and the equity stagnates for a while; before it finds a spark of rejuvination. Turner's Falls has brushed itself off; but it's far from being complete.

Call in the urban planners but this time; get them to live there. There's a bunch of things that could happen to upgrade Turner's Falls and it can be driven from different directions. Excellent school systems could induce new development money indirectly but that doesn't exclude a good amount of civic brainstorming to look at it's overall layout and begin to cultivate it's future.

Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts: BREAKING NEWS!,.. "Not one franchised retail chain store spotted in the town, not even a CVS,..sources will confirm."

Letter to Deval:

Dear Deval: As the Lord Governor of the Commonwealth, I think you need to express a gesture of gratitude to this small hamlet for its activism at a self sustaining independent business community and economy.

I think it would behoove the governor to express to the local selectman of Franklin County a word of commendation for exercising good judgement at preserving and maintaining their own affairs without succumbing to the pressures of contemporary development pressures.

"The enterprise neo-classical model at its' best - fair trade, in equilibrium and unthreatened by conglomerates or national chains"

(It's too bad that the selectmen of Cape Cod didn't consult with this group or is that the price of democracy?)

MCLA Boiler facility -Wednesday June 24th, 2009: its not all fun and games out here....

We get things done; at least the contractors are getting it done: I'm just the score keeper - watching the budget.

Take an old Cleaver Brooks boiler - 1980- and modify it so that you have control over it. Or think of it this way. It's all about costs these days - energy costs - so ask yourself; how can I regulate - or modulate the heating loads of the campus buildings?

Instead of firing up the boiler each day to capacity and having a fixed combustion fan, a fixed flame, and a fixed psi on natural gas: you want to be able to modulate these parameters based on load demand.

Taking a 1980 Cleaver Brooks (ton?) boiler and fitting it up so that you can control it's output and input is a task for the specialists. The new controllers and gas pipe trains, the senors, probes and relays were all connected this week.

The guys in the photo were witnessing the burn in: we turned on the boiler (steam) and to run it through it's control possibilities. The digital read outs were about 80% positive; and then there's that annoying 20% of trouble signals that sent the contractor into paroxysms of angst. $$$$$$$.

By friday, it came down to some incompatible relays and the fix was on. The energy savings data is buried in the documents somewhere and maybe I can find the annual dollar rate savings.

Friday June 26th: more Shelburne Falls attractions: beautiful glacial rock carved by run off from the great icebergs that came to shape the northeast

Way back in time, there was something of 100 feet of ice sitting atop this scene causing gushing run-off sedimentation at enough velocity to carve up this dense stone. In more recent times, the English explorers came upon this site - William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne decided to lend the area his name and claim it for his King. That name stuck; Shelburne it was.

What followed that event is settlements, farmers, traders, and eventually someone who knows the flowing water is power and sets up a mill. A bucolic industrial output engine begins to supply the broader empire throughout the 1800's and early 1900's.

Within the last fifty years, the post war years; production softened as demand for local goods moved overseas. Get the picture? The economics of the last two generations have changed the legacy economic models of America's beginnings.

"You can't go home again" said Thomas Wolfe (the first) - addressing the stormy volatility of his generations longings for stability and homestead. Is this something of a cycle, Americans must deal with?

Yes.

Salmon Falls right there in Shelburne: walk through the town and get a sense of the local history

Someone remembers and someone marks the event with a sign. The state has ideas of repopulating the Salmon: bringing back the original eco-systems.

It's interesting that the "treaty" was recognized by the colonial court which could infer that there was some type of positive dialogue regarding local resources; their outcome and distribution. Fair trade? Equilibrium?

Friday June 26th at 5:30 p.m.: Lamson and Goodnow make cutlery

Lamson and Goodnow established a cutlery factory in Shelburne Falls.

There was also a pin factory in the town as well as manufacturing supporting the union drive during the civil war. This is part of the cutlery factory complex; looking rusticated and very original.

This is an interesting property and begging for some development. It's untouched in exterior appearances; probably has some clean up costs that are daunting; like what's in the soils. Obviously industry has run its course here, but tourism dollars are possible attractions to revitalize the mill buildings. Got any ideas?

After a brief conversation with the wine merchant; he explained that the river actually separated the upper classes from the lower classes in town. Apparently, still in the by-laws is a town mandate that allows alcohol to be consumed in public; whereas - across the river it is prohibited from public view and can only be consumed behind closed doors.

The wealthy built their houses east of the river while the factory employees squatted on west side of the river.

Shelburne Falls bridge across the Deerfield River

Vermont Construction Company and Contractors engineered this bridge; one hundred years of service - well done guys.

The odd fellows building in Shelburne Falls

This building is on the National Historic Registry. The plaque states that the building is identified as the "Oddfellows" building.
Apparently, 1840's or so - a group of odd fellows came to occupy the building upper chambers in common agreement that they were perhaps "odd-fellows". Reactionaries? The first neo conservatives? We'll try to find out.

This had to be a humorous group; convening as it were in the Odd-fellows building - the very "odd fellows" them selves. I wonder if they kept minutes of their meetings?



The top floor has a dance floor; the ground floor is McKusker's wine market connected to a lovely food market next door. There's no super markets in Shelbourne Falls.

Shelburne Falls and the flower bridge: Friday, June 26th, 2009

Heading east from North Adams along route 2, there's plenty to pick up on as the natural elevations change. Not too far from Florida, and Charlemont is Shelburne Falls; only a mile south off route 2. Well worth a stop over; Shelburne Falls is a sweet town with plenty of natural drama and a rich history to support it.

A flower bridge that once was a trolley track running cross the river. A flower bridge; novel, expressive and green; as good as it gets.

In your face Weymouth.

Thursday June 25th: window mannequins on Eagle Street in North Adams

More local news. There's a mayoral race in North Adams that is starting to heat up. The agenda by the challenger proposes more changes for North Adams; he's appealing to the youth to help revitalize the city.

I spoke briefly with the director of the office of Tourism for North Adams on thursday night.

"It's about ideas" said Rob. "The incumbent has done a great job at managing the city; but people are anxious about North Adams future and so the discussion gets worked into the campaigns."

"I can't fault our incumbent mayor, he's done a great job and is very consistent,..he also hired me as tourism director."

Norman Rockwell would've noticed.

Nice colors as the sun sets west. The buildings are facing west situated on River Street. River Street is a slice of old North Adams; along with the Mill buildings.

I was fortunate to pick up a copy of a book written by Joe Manning on the history of North Adams. Joe brought together a wonderful compendium of North Adams' history, it's urban renewal and economic shifts - with personal testimonials from towns folk. There's some great pages on the workings and staff at the Sprague factory (currently MOCA) and a photographic journal of the severing North Adams main street.

I was mesmerized by Joe's book and then stepped out on the street to see the sun set on the noble architecturally detailed facades. It's brief, but for the moment's appreciation - one might desire to go back one hundred years and walk the same street. Where did I put my spats?

Art walk delivers a whimsical piece on the thursday night art walk in North Adams

These pieces were featured on thurday night's North Adams art walk. Many folks coming downtown; it seemed the right thing to do.


Norman Rockwell's son was among the attendees of thursday nights' art walk.

Art walk on Main Street on thursday - June 25, 2009

Future mayoral candidate for North Adams, Dan W. played host to many artists and art patrons as they strolled Eagle Street to take in the galleries. Dan was a magnet of good will and enthusiasm; charming many of the people spilling out to Eagle street in the warm evening.





Dan is currently residing in the former Beaver mill; pleased to be decompressing from NYC and city life.










The house that Dan built: he's got about 5700 square feet with oak beams (in need of paint) and plenty of expressive neighbors. Up to the right of the building is a wonderful scenic collection of rock (marble) outcroppings, old growth trees and rushing water from the river: check out the natural bridge and park if your heading to Clarksburg.

Beaver Mill; it's obvious why it got it's name,..so the question is,....are there any beaver left?

Art walk on Main Street North Adams: thursday - June 25, 2009

A wonderful marquee dressed in neon. A salute to old main street - a grateful gesture to past glories.

There are no movies here as of yet; but the owners are considering it. Meanwhile, light up the sign.

The urge to pile on is enticing; so we'll be careful with the editorials. Sorry about the photo.

This "suspended rock" sits opposite the entry way of the Mass MOCA complex.

It appears to be important enough to be featured right on route 8's humble beginnings here in North Adams. It stands alone in a plaza area that sits opposite the museum complex. It's contemporary; it's conceptual; its symbolic and before we pontificate on contemporary art, it's well constructed.

What does it mean? Buried in the rock are tons of compression; reflecting the gyrations of earths' geotechnic movements and combinations of minerals and baked strata to forge "rock".

The commentary at the facilities office has been generous every time I bring this piece up with the FG's (facilities guys). Most of the commentary has been very entertaining. Entertaining,...maybe that's the real value in this contemporary art piece.

Bring in the critics.

I think it speaks to our times; unoriginal, simplistic and provocative. The Medicci Family would file criminal complaints; the Romans and Greeks would be smirking. The "me" generation art cum narcissism.

Sweeney's Harley

Sweeney (FG,..facilities guy) let me know that Quincy Market was just a big rip off and he'll never go there again - even if there's free Red Sox tickets,....quote: "Driving into Boston is a pain in the posterior and I won't do it anymore."

He did volunteer that he enjoyed touring; got the Harley for a great price - and will drive it as far as Worcester but that's it.

On tuesday the 16th, he also told me the state evacuation day was dumb,..but if the state wanted him to take the day off with pay then he wouldn't argue with them.

Will we see Wind Power coming to Western Massachusetts?

Like Cape Cod sound; this proposal will be met with resistance; even environmentalists will take a stand against something like this. But like Cape Cod sound; their arguments will be honed down to simply an aesthetic criteria which won't hold much power given clean energy pressures.

I think Joe from Facilities is going; I hope he comes back with some fireworks.

I hope to come back to this post and thrash it out: the future of Western Mass and it's demand of clean energy starts with this proposal and town meeting.

Once upon a time, wood was almost a "free" utility. The material was free; the downside was labor - the costs "expended" to harvest it for fuel and shelter. Electricity; one of today's essential utilities is at the frontier and crossroads of dramatic cost reductions as we as a community become untethered to fossil fuels. Electrical power costs could go down as we reduce our carbon foot print.

This issue must be viewed in the context of transformational economic epics or as quantum changes in technological expansion. If man can devote his labors to food production; and not worry about the costs of utilities (energy) then truly; the age of leisure and recreation is upon him.

One way to think of today's trouble economic world is this: it is vital for the community to break from the expansion and re-think it's goals; the downtime and recession provides the necessary pressure to consider the essentials vs. non-essentials and pause to work out the long term vision for the communities of Western Mass. Can the bucolic school systems of Western Mass be the primary economic drivers of the contemporary commercial cultures? Are we gravitating to the Grecian "State" again; that fleeting period of enlightenment where knowledge, wisdom and aspiration of the heavens can guide us going forward?

What happens as we decentralize, simplify, look backward before leaping forward? The expansionary model of economic development: housing, followed by malls, and consumption needs a rest. Is it time to transcend the aggregation model and re-think the costs of living?

Wednesday - June 17th 2009 - at 7:00 pm. The lodge atop Mt. Greylock

Here's Bascom lodge sitting at the visitors center atop Mt. Greylock.

When I looked in; there were carpenters working some details in preparation of it's re-opening. It sleeps 34 guests on an overnight. The state has found a lessee and we hope it books up quickly.

We are of course in the tower looking down - a northwesterly direction - looking toward NY state and the Adirondacks. Click on the flyer for full details on Bascom Lodge.



The regional news headlines are responding to the New York state legislatures deadlock in Albany. It's a mess; a real embarrassment.

Bear Swamp Power Company: Friday June 19th, at 5:00 pm

FERC #2669. What? There's a lot behind this sign. Stay tuned as we try to unravel the story of the Bear Swamp Power Company.

The Bear Swamp Power station and reservoir was built in the 70's. Someone had an idea; and eventually it was realized.

A reservoir; or what formerly was a swamp sits on top of a mountain - about 1800 feet in elevation, adjacent to the Deerfield River. Due to rainfalls, it has 30 feet of "head" or overflow of the bowl -as it were. If I could drain the reservoir and have it run through a couple of turbines, then I could generate megawatts to help augment and offset peak load times on the electrical grid. Good idea.

In the early seventies; the idea was engineered and the swamp became a reservoir; the mountain was bored out to accommodate a shaft and power station and any residual run off would be dumped into the Deerfield river - plus - rather than waiting for the rain to fill up the bowl, the pumps would deliver water up to the reservoir to cycle the turbines.

"Who made the turbines and the pumps?" I asked Charlie, the visitor center currator with the grand sense of humor.

"Toshiba and Hitachi made most of the equipment in the power house. The turbine impeller blades were trucked up the mountain very carefully after hours shutting down the highways; they were 28 feet wide, I'm told." said Charlie.

"Japanese parts and engineering,..how's that?" I asked again.

"The Japanese had retooled after the War - after the devastation and with the help of the Marshall Plan, they reinvented their own power grid and electrical sources. They were newly engineered power generators, unlike the US infrastructure that had various power sources all supplying the national grid - many of them 40 years old. So the Japanese had state of the art equipment which made it attractive to the power company engineers. The turbines are kind of a direct drive to the generators and can reverse direction to actually pump water back up the mountain,...pretty ingenious."



If you click on the picture and look at the center near the horizon, you can see the reservoir. I asked Charlie if I could get a closer look at the power generation system. He didn't say yes,...but he didn't say no (it's inside the mountain).



According to Charlie, it's been bought and sold a dozen times - like a trading card for investment groups - even Enron held title once (that tells you something about this industry) - it's current owner resides in Maine. Charlie noted that there's a full time staff in the power generation station consisting of two people. The controls are maintained by a remote office in Marlboro, Mass; it can be monitored and activated off a laptop.

It's not 100% self sustaining; it borrows power to activate the pumps to fill up the reservoir. It functions as a reserve electrical supplier when demand loads intensify. There is talk about installing more efficient pumps; perhaps there's a new discussion of setting up windpower to power the pumps - that would make it 100% self sustaining.