Historical Society is Barre's 'Crown Jewel'

Vermont Business Magazine, Jul 01, 2003

Barre City and Barre Town, drawing on its strength of more than a century of

excellence in manufacturing and granite quarrying, is the industrial center of the

region. Industries include electronics, mass transit manufacturing, and granite,

while the downtown is comprised of retail shops and professional services. 2000

City Population: 9,291, Town: 7,602.

In Barre City, Swenson Granite is in the process of adding a sizeable addition to their plant for shipping and receiving. The Community National Bank has broken ground for their new bank branch on Main Street. John Mayfield has plans for a new restaurant called Sean & Nora's at the site of the former Country House. Laurent and Marie Fortier have broken ground for their community care home on Bailey Street. The City has selected a site off of North Main Street for their new $3 million fire and police station.

In Barre Town, Rock of Ages has broken ground on their new visitor's center to be located in front of their main manufacturing plant. Hillside Stone Products plans to break ground on their new facility in the Wilson Industrial Park to manufacture granite counter tops. The Hannaford's addition is well under way at the site of the former Howard's Market. Delphia Construction, which is doing the equipment set up, has leased space in the Barre Area Development Corp building

for the next nine months. Koffee Kup Bakery has leased a small amount of space in the building. Batchelder Associates PC has built a new office building on Quarry Hill for their use and they have approximately 4,000 SF of first class office space for lease.

Berlin, situated between Barre and Montpelier, Berlin is a fast-growing retail center with several shopping plazas and a mall. In addition, there is a mix of light manufacturing and distribution companies, as well as Edward F Knapp Airport, Central Vermont Medical Center, glue Cross/Blue Shield of Vermont, restaurants and hotels. 2000 population: 2,864.

In Berlin, the Connor Group has obtained the necessary permits to get the "Harry's" project under construction and has completed the acquisition from the town of Berlin. Blue Cross-Blue Shield has started a major addition to their building. The new Vermont State Employees Credit Union building is completed. On the negative side, Ames is still vacant and now the Family Market, which moved from the Grand Union in Barre to the Vermont Shopping Center last fall, is empty

Montpelier, the state capital is home to National Life of Vermont, state government offices, four colleges, several financial, insurance & real estate (FIRE) companies, and professional services with a growing industrial base. Montpelier is also the site of a newly constructed, multi-purpose Civic Center. 2000 population: 8,035.

In Montpelier, Westview Meadows has their permits in hand to begin construction of a 52-unit elderly housing project located off Freedom Drive. Thirty-six of the units will be for independent living and 16 units will be assisted living; 662 Elm Street is going through the permit process for 28 units of multifamily housing at that address. Pat Malone is working on a PUD that will include a 30,000SE warehouse on Gallison Hill Road for Cabot Creamery. WSKI has received approval to replace a 171-foot monopole just off Route 2 with a tower of the same height that will have the potential to carry 48 panels for cellular communications. The city has received a petition to rezone Sabins Pasture.

The Connor Group and the Pyralisk Art Center are working on plans for a combination office and arts facility at the site of the "Salt Shed" on Stone Cutters Way. A major downtown fire completely destroyed two businesses and the building will have to be torn down. Two other businesses, The Country Store and Charlie O's in an adjacent building received heavy smoke and water damage and are assessing their future as they shared a common wall with the building to be torn down. The Vermont Mountaineers, Vermont's first franchise in the New England College Baseball League, opened their season at the newly renovated Montpelier "Rec" Field. These kids play exciting baseball and provide great family entertainment at a very reasonable price.

Northfield claims Norwich University, the nation's oldest private military school known for its engineering and computer science programs Norwich's presence dominates Northfield with its campus, its new, state-of-the-art arena/convention center and outdoor sports facilities. Northfield is also a growing industrial area, particularly in wood products and textiles. 2000 population: 5,791.

Norwich University, home of the 2003 Division III hockey champions continues to grow. This summer they are adding a 4th story to Crawford Hall to provide 80 additional beds as well as making numerous other campus improvements. Norwich has acquired the "Downtown" Armory from the State of Vermont and will begin renovations to house the Center for Counter Terrorism and Cyber Crime there as well as their on-line graduate program. Planning for future growth is also under way.