Many changes have come to the Town of Sprague, most in the name of progress, others, well let's just leave it at others. But I am a true believer in everything happens for a reason. Thinking back to the postcards that lined the walls of the once thriving little Fred's News, it appeared nothing had changed in the almost fifty years since the postcard of West Main Street had been produced. The Fred's News building looked much the same, but the white picket fence at the Methodist Church, now gone. The building itself, no longer a place of worship. Bibiane's Dry Goods.......just the quaint little building remains. Bibiane and her sister Camille, two of the loveliest little women, lived and worked in that small building for many years. When I first moved to Baltic, I would visit them daily. Not having any children of their own, they would rock my young son in the old rocking chair as they passed the time. I very much enjoyed the short visits, watching them sew, kni,t crochet, or needlepoint. The only time their hands were not busy.......cuddling a napping baby as they rocked.
Baltic, once a thriving small mill town has slowly evolved into a drive through village, no longer a destination. New sidewalks, allowing its citizens safe passage on foot, are hopefully the beginning of a rebirth of sorts. People exercise, hopefully neighbors will enjoy the company of each other as they walk along the village on the banks of the Shetucket. The river in all its beauty, is one of Sprague's biggest assets and yes, perhaps some day it will once again be a destination.
Recent news stories of gas-line explosions, does make one wonder...how and why these things occur. In the early 1990's, a natural gas line was constructed through the village of Baltic. There were many informative meetings, citizens gathered, asking many questions, why? Why through our Town? In front of St. Mary's Church, St. Joseph's School, the Academy of the Holy Family, along West Main Street in front of Fred's News, 72 Degrees, the funeral home, convenience store. The actual "business district " in the village. It was basically for the big paper mill, Sprague's largest tax payer. As the installation of the line neared completion, the new road construction began. Something that definitely was needed, but with all things new, issues needed to be addressed. Better roads, less bumps, faster speeds......school zone signs now needed to be installed. With the new road and sidewalk, parking in front of Fred's News, now much easier, yet leaving the driveway of Fred's News was hazardous to your health. Yet neighbors and ourselves...adapted. Mr. Bill joked, "the warm and inviting park bench, with it's overstuffed bears and the gorgeous blooms of the "Flowers of Fred's News", now that slowed the traffic to a crawl!" Although some businesses no longer called the Village, home...everything about Sprague is good. As I live and work in central Florida, it always amazes me, the number of people that call eastern Connecticut home, know the Town of Sprague. They talk fondly of it's picturesque river, campground, and the still intact mill homes. Flea markets in Florida sell postcards from years gone by....I have seen the former Baltic dam, the Baltic Mills and the Academy of the Holy Family of yesteryear. Perhaps one day......postcards of West Main Street, complete with Fred's News, will appear.
Baltic, once a thriving small mill town has slowly evolved into a drive through village, no longer a destination. New sidewalks, allowing its citizens safe passage on foot, are hopefully the beginning of a rebirth of sorts. People exercise, hopefully neighbors will enjoy the company of each other as they walk along the village on the banks of the Shetucket. The river in all its beauty, is one of Sprague's biggest assets and yes, perhaps some day it will once again be a destination.
Recent news stories of gas-line explosions, does make one wonder...how and why these things occur. In the early 1990's, a natural gas line was constructed through the village of Baltic. There were many informative meetings, citizens gathered, asking many questions, why? Why through our Town? In front of St. Mary's Church, St. Joseph's School, the Academy of the Holy Family, along West Main Street in front of Fred's News, 72 Degrees, the funeral home, convenience store. The actual "business district " in the village. It was basically for the big paper mill, Sprague's largest tax payer. As the installation of the line neared completion, the new road construction began. Something that definitely was needed, but with all things new, issues needed to be addressed. Better roads, less bumps, faster speeds......school zone signs now needed to be installed. With the new road and sidewalk, parking in front of Fred's News, now much easier, yet leaving the driveway of Fred's News was hazardous to your health. Yet neighbors and ourselves...adapted. Mr. Bill joked, "the warm and inviting park bench, with it's overstuffed bears and the gorgeous blooms of the "Flowers of Fred's News", now that slowed the traffic to a crawl!" Although some businesses no longer called the Village, home...everything about Sprague is good. As I live and work in central Florida, it always amazes me, the number of people that call eastern Connecticut home, know the Town of Sprague. They talk fondly of it's picturesque river, campground, and the still intact mill homes. Flea markets in Florida sell postcards from years gone by....I have seen the former Baltic dam, the Baltic Mills and the Academy of the Holy Family of yesteryear. Perhaps one day......postcards of West Main Street, complete with Fred's News, will appear.
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