10 years ago:

Construction crews began work on one of three bridges that would be built as part of a major project rebuilding Route 9 from the bottom of Searsburg Mountain to the west end of Wilmington.

Wilmington resident Chris Richter formally announced his campaign for the House seat occupied by Democrat Bob Rusten. Richter, a Republican, ran on the issues of affordable health care, housing, and Act 60. His campaign motto was “It’s Time to Listen.”

The District Environmental Commission issued an Act 250 permit for Haystack Highlands, the first proposed development at Haystack in more than a decade. The state permit was the last major hurdle for developer John Redd.

15 years ago:

Dover volunteers were working on two sections of the Valley Trail. In the Kingswood development, the volunteers were putting gravel on a recently completed section of the trail. Volunteers were also finishing work on a spur that runs from Kingswood to Crosstown Road. Town officials hoped to have a section running from the North Commercial Complex to Mountain Park Plaza completed soon after, and the final section from Tollgate Village to North Realty completed within five years.

20 years ago:

Readsboro teachers won a suit filed against the school board for unfair labor practices. The Vermont Labor Relations Board ruled that the teachers were entitled to a step increase in salaries as agreed to in their contract, with 12% interest. The teachers’ contracts had expired a year earlier but, because no new contract had been negotiated, the old contract was still in effect, the labor relations board ruled. The increase amounted to about $1,000 for each of the school’s eight teachers.

Stephanie Kaufman, a former Mount Snow ski instructor, opened Hayseed Gifts on Route 100 in West Dover. The shop sold everything from penny candy to hand-crafted jewelry.

25 years ago:

Associated Mortgage Investors, the company that owned and managed Haystack, was being swallowed up by Home State Savings of Cincinnati, OH. AMI, which foreclosed on Haystack in 1976, was in bankruptcy with more than $13.6 million in debt. According to a spokesman for the Association of Haystack Property Owners, Home State Savings had plans to develop Haystack.

30 years ago:

Mount Snow decided against hosting a fiddlers contest organized by Newfane resident Bill Morse after local business owners expressed concern that the attendees would get “drugged up and liquored up.”

Isabel Childs, of West Dover, threw her hat into the ring for the Republican nomination for Windham County senator.

Wilmington’s planning commission held a public meeting on proposed design control in the village area.

35 years ago:

A Wardsboro man recalled the day in 1935 when a barn (originally built in 1796) was moved to its new location on what’s now Route 100. A new foundation was built and the building was set on blocks and towed by a Model A. When it reached the new site, however, “The thing just keeled right over on its side,” said Bernard Streeter. But the barn was so well made, it was undamaged by the tumble and was placed on the foundation with the help of three draft horses after it was righted. At the time the story was printed in The Deerfield Valley News, the barn was a restaurant, aptly named “The Barn.”

40 years ago:

Wilmington’s tax rate plummeted by 17.8%, from $3.89 to $3.20. Selectboard members said their hold-the-line attitude in budgeting and an increase in the town’s grand list because of new construction were the chief reasons for the drop.

Supporters of presidential candidate George McGovern set up an outdoor campaign headquarters in front of Wee Moran’s shop on West Main Street. The information stand was the idea of Ken Ross, of West Dover. In November, Nixon was elected in a landslide. Vermont results closely mirrored the rest of the nation’s.