By JANET MONDLAK
BRANDON—Exactly 50 years ago, way back in 1973, the Brandon League of Women Voters published a nifty booklet called “Brandon – Our Town.” I’m sure a percentage of readers were living in Brandon at this time, but I would venture to say that most of you were either too young to think about your community or were not yet living here.
1973 is at the tail end of the “mid-century” era, usually thought of in terms of design and style. So, what did it mean in terms of community and lifestyle? What was happening in the 1970s?
This little 40-page, 5-1/2 x 8-1/2” booklet tells us much about the life and times of Brandonites. Included is a synopsis of history, present-day characteristics, community life, government, finances, education, public health and safety, the library, senior citizens, day care, recreation, the Brandon Training School, fire signals, and a business directory. If we simulated this treasure trove of information today, what would we include? What is important to us? What do we value as a society?
Here are some Brandon stats from 50 years ago:
· Population: 3697
· Police Department: Chief and 2 Patrolmen; 2 cruisers
· Fire Department: 40 men; two fire pumper trucks and a van
· Brandon Area Rescue Squad: 57 men and women; two ambulances
· Brandon Public Library: 29,000 books, 56 periodicals, over 500 circulating records
· Brandon Training School: 485 residential students in Brandon (no mention of number of employees)
· Newspaper: Dateline Brandon
· Fire signals throughout Brandon and Forest Dale: 40. I’m sure the only one the kids cared about was signal 6 – no school.
Town governance has changed little in the last 50 years, especially at the top hierarchy. I would consider it an indication of a well-functioning town that our former town fathers and mothers established successfully. We are still governed by Selectmen, although we now call them Selectboard members. We have a town manager, highway foreman, and police officers, all outlined in the flow chart. Some of the volunteer appointed positions have been dissolved as life changed, such as town constables, listers, and a town grand juror.
THESE ILLUSTRATIONS BY Andrew Larrabee are both strange and familiar. Most of these buildings still stand but their occupants are mostly different now.
The Community Life page names 40 clubs and organizations. Reading through the list, I would venture to guess that half or more are no longer in existence. Who out there remembers the High Pond Ski Club? That was a popular one. The town had its own Garden Club and Historical Society, which are no longer in existence. But the good news is that those functions are being performed by others: Sarah Pattis and her team of gardeners and the Brandon Museum, respectively.
We had a Future Farmers of America chapter and one from the Future Homemakers of America. We had the Neshobe Grange and the Neshobe Sportsman Club, which was specified in the booklet as (Snow Mobilers). Each of the churches in town had a number of clubs or associations for their members. Not only are most of the church clubs not in existence, some of the churches have been dissolved also. The last one I’ll mention is the publishers of this little book I’ve been reading: the Brandon League of Women Voters.
I would say that the most radical changes in the 05733 have been in Brandon’s business community. No surprise about that. The internet and the growth of big box stores have probably impacted more small-town business communities in our country that any other factors. And while very different than 50 years ago, it is pleasing to note that Brandon’s downtown and business community today is still robust.
Pondering how 50 years ago, our town, with a slightly smaller population than we have today, was able to sustain four car-sales businesses and 8 service stations or garages, takes some thought. I can’t imagine that households had more cars back then than they do now. Being in the antiques business, I marvel at the listing of nine antique shops. Who was buying all those old things? We had seven realtors and seven insurance agencies. That seems like a lot of real estate being bought, sold, and insured. There were even eight grocery stores and four restaurants – there was clearly a wide selection of food available. Sadly enough, there were also eight manufacturing businesses and we all know what happened to that industry in small towns everywhere.
Here’s a shoutout to all the businesses that were in existence in Brandon 50 years ago that still call Brandon home today. I did not include businesses that might still be here in some form but have been sold to an “outside” company (like First Brandon National Bank). However, I did include businesses that might not have the same owner today as in 1973, but that are still locally owned: Kudos to Ken Mohan, McDonough’s Garage, Sheila’s Hair Styling, Blue Seal, Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home, Brandon Inn, Brandon Motor Lodge, Crosby Lawnmower Service, New England Woodcraft, Whittaker Real Estate, and Wood’s Market.
Look around “Our Town.” What will it look like in 50 years? 2073 will be here before we know it!
