Although it wasn't tied in with any reunion activities or even Wellsville's Revitalization Committee's Main Street USA program, a campaign pledge made last year was put into action and fit in nicely with both. It happened on Saturday morning, June 26, just before the All-Class Reunion got underway.
While running for a Village Council seat last year, then candidate, Susan Haugh said she would like to see efforts made to clean up Wellsville's business district and pledged this would be one of her goals if elected. It was Haugh's dream to bring out Wellsville's personality and charm that for some has been hidden behind dirt, grime and clutter for years. On that Saturday morning Haugh's campaign rhetoric was transformed into action. It came after a lot of time and work was put into planning, organizing and just plain begging others to help out. It all paid off as members of the Wellsville community came together to make the first step in what will be an ongoing effort. Just getting ready to take that first step took weeks of countless hours getting out talking to people and even more time burning up the phone lines with the proposal.
Wellsville is a historic old village that has aged well over two plus centuries. It has had its ups and downs over that period. Until the last three decades it was mostly an up swing prospering first on one industry to another. Wellsville people have pride in their home town along the river that goes back to the days of William Wells, our town founder. It's deep in our roots. With the demise of the rail industry in town, the steel & pottery industry up and down the valley the last thirty years or so have been challenging. Over that time frame businesses closed, people moved on and others struggled just to maintain. Many of the historic, original buildings in our business district stand empty and neglected for lack of tenants. The charm is still there. The personality is still there. What we saw on June 26 proves the pride is still very strong. For most the neglect is from lack of funds to maintain. On that Saturday we saw a group of people prove that what they can't do for lack of money, they were more than willing to do with pitching in and doing it themselves. With brooms, shovels, weed whackers and other equipment they went to work.
The clean up was spearheaded by Jeff Haugh. He and his wife, Councilwoman Sue Haugh, got it all organized offering to wash windows, clean out cluttered store fronts, paint store fronts, sweep & weed sidewalks and curb lines. They even offered to empty out store fronts, help dress them up and hang the owner's flowers if desired. They got the word out and people responded.
Ron Dailey of Dailey's Recycling & Refuse, donated a huge 30 yard dumpster for anyone to use for some of that clutter. Kris Vallera, of Vallera Services, brought his front loader for where ever it was needed. LSW Sanitation, one of Wellsville's newer businesses, donated a water truck and two employees to power wash sidewalks and store fronts, if requested. Members of Wellsville's Nazarene Church along with their pastor donated their labor. The ladies of the Alley Cat Aide Brigade was there with their hot dog cooker and refreshments to feed the workers.. Tonda Ross, of Tonda's Place, donated the electricity for the cooker. Beverly & Lonnie Hentzell, of Wellsville's Havin' Fun Karaoke & DJ Services, provided music for a little entertainment. Between spinning tunes they got busy with brooms too. Village Administrator Jim Saracco reworked the Street Department's work schedule and got volunteers from the Summer Youth Program, working for the Village, to switch days off. There was a nice group of them, along with Jimbo Mattingley, that joined in with all the other volunteers. The Buckeye Water District also contributed. We won't even attempt to name all the other volunteers for fear of over looking some one but they are all special folks. Their participation is not over looked or taken lightly. The owner of Center Pharmacy had some of his employees out with brooms & shovels. He even planted a couple of cherry trees to dress up an empty yard along Main St. There was even one lady from the former Fix-up/Clean-up Committee that came out of retirement to contribute. The WPD was on hand if neeed. It turned out to be a special day made possible by a very special group that showed the pride is still there and we can do it.
Getting ready for the reunion, or just taking care of their places, some business owners and land lords got a head start with painting, decorating and cleaning. We said a while back that the new signs Darlene & Tammy put up at the Dairy Queen made a remarkable difference. It is also remarkable what a coat of paint made on some of those historic buildings along our business district. All in all it was a very much appreciated effort by everyone to get this ball rolling. Wellsville is truly some place special.
At the Council meeting this past Tuesday the Mayor commended Jeff & Susie Haugh and all that joined in, in the clean up. It was a well deserved commendation and there are many areas around the Village, not in the business district, that have been noticed too. This time's clean up efforts was concentrated on Main Street from 3rd to 9th Sts. Haugh acknowledged the commendation stating the thanks goes to all the residents & businesses that pitched in to make the effort a success. She said other areas are being considered to carry on with what has just begun.
We would like to add our thanks and kudos to everyone, not only in the business district, but to those all around town that are doing their part. You folks are great...
ole nib
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