One of my favorite things to do is talk with older people – I mean those who are at least several decades older than I am. Of course, as the years go by, this becomes more difficult. I remember a summer when I interviewed four women who were over 100 years old, right here in Windham. It was fascinating to hear about a 17-year-old’s first teaching job and how people coped during depression and wars, and about the building of sections of Route 302. Some of these stories have appeared in local newspapers, and some are still to be written in a future book.
Last week another old friend left us. Kay Clark’s family had been on the Hill (Windham Hill) for many generations. She was a friend of my mother’s, and former fellow PTA member when she and my mom each had several children in the schools. Once when I took my mother up to visit, she and Kay started talking about their children, as though no time had passed between their visits, ignoring the fact of graduations, marriages and decades of change.
When I was the newspaper editor, Kay used to call me frequently to announce that there had been another car accident at the corner of Windham Center Road, Pope and Ward Roads – this was at once time, almost a weekly occurrence and when she said “This is Kay Clark,” I knew I had a front page article.
Kay loved to tell me about the good old days and what life was like for a little girl visiting her grandparents on Windham Hill. I am ever so grateful that she opened up to me and shared such memories. She told about how scared she was, riding in the back of a wagon, over the dirt Windham Center Road, over the bumpy Pleasant River Bridge (all boards and not bolted down, either) on the way up the steep hill to her family. That little girl, peaking out between the slats of the wagon sides and watching the horses toss their heads, grew up to be a wonderful lady. A mother, medical professional, community volunteer and so much more. From her life and those of many of her generation, this town was built. I’m sure going to miss her and her alerting phone calls.
On Monday, August 22, Windham Historical Society members will hold their regular meeting at 7 p.m. and then go to the “Corner Store”, as some are calling it, for an Open House.
The “store” is the Old Grocery Museum, at the corner of Route 202 and Windham Center Road. Since acquiring the building a dozen years ago, the Historical Society members have spent many dozens of hours and many dollars in renovations to the centuries-old building and former cobbler shop/grocery.
Today, thanks to the hard work of volunteers and members – Sandra Vacchiano and Norma Rogers – the newest of the Society’s museums is very inviting. Displays of shoemaking tools, utensils, old photos, farm equipment, furniture, household items and the famous Windham horse-drawn hearse, have drawn dozens to visit this summer. The public is welcome to this annual event on Monday, Aug. 22 – come to the meeting at the old town house on Windham Center Road and find out more about the Historical Society, a non-profit educational organization. Then join friends and neighbors for a tour of the Old Grocery.
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