|
|
|
Welcome To Brandon, Vermont
Unhurried, Unspoiled, Unforgettable |
The
Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce is your one-stop source
for events, activities, lodging, dining, tourism, weddings and business
information.
Let us
know if we can be of any service to you. |
New Walls From A Strong Foundation
By Janet Mondlak, Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce |
The Neshobe River ebbs and flows as it passes through downtown Brandon, under buildings and Route 7. It is fitting that a river is situated here — Brandon has a history of ebbing and flowing itself. Throughout the 1800s and 1900s, Brandon saw a fair share of prosperity and despair — both man-made and natural. Businesses have come and gone. Buildings have risen and fallen. The population has increased and decreased.
Currently, Brandon’s downtown is experiencing a renaissance. Today’s visitors will find restored architecture, art galleries and interesting shops and restaurants. We look neat, tidy, and pretty. There has recently been substantial financial investment. More importantly, there is a groundswell of community spirit and pride.
You might think that when a town is experiencing hardships — diminished employment opportunities, slow real estate market, closing storefronts — that its residents give up hope and caring. However, this had not been the case in Brandon. In the past decade, Brandon has definitely seen more than its fair share of hardship, but never did the people’s spirit waver. Maybe the caring and sharing nature of Brandon residents comes from hosting the Brandon Training School for almost a century. That certainly took a compassionate community of caregivers. Whatever the reason, Brandon’s residents have excelled at making the community a wonderful and safe place to live and raise a family.
-
Brandon has staged one of the largest Independence Day Celebrations in the state for many years. Thousands descend upon our small town on the Saturday closest to July 4 for festivities.
- The Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce works on beautification projects each year and sponsors an annual summer concert series held downtown.
- The Garden Club has beautified downtown for many years.
- The Harvest Program rakes, cleans, plants, and donates all over town.
- The Brandon Thrift Shop volunteers sort, price, and sell recycled clothing and knick-knacks to raise funds for OVUHS scholarships.
- The Brandon Free Public Library welcomes volunteers of all ages to sort, shelve, and run their summer used book sale.
- Foster Grandparents are welcome at Neshobe School and assist teachers and students in many classrooms and also work at the town ’s only daycare facility, Children’s Growth Company.
- The Basin Bluegrass Festival brings thousands of music-lovers to town and the sponsor, the Neshobe Sportsman Club, uses proceeds for programs and events such as youth hunting safety courses and its annual Youth Fishing Derby.
- Nature lovers help out at Neshobe School by teaching ELF (Environmental Learning for the Future program sponsored by the Vermont Institute of Natural Science) classes in the third and fourth grades.
- The Friends of Brandon Town Hall is a private, non-profit organization which is raising funds for that beautiful building ’s preservation and restoration.
- Operation Santa Claus helps out families in need with gifts and toys.
- Brandon Food Shelf volunteers collect, sort and distribute many tons of food all year round.
- The Brandon Rotarians and the Lions give back to the community in many ways.
- The American Legion holds an annual Halloween Party.
- Otter Valley ’s Career Connection students perform many hours of community service all over town.
In addition, there are the myriad of volunteer opportunities which are found in every town: fire and rescue squads, town and school boards, and the PTO.
|
This list of caring and sharing opportunities is not a complete story by any means. It is meant to show a community with a history and a strength and a purpose. Maybe that is why Brandon’s “renaissance” is so exciting. We already had so many of the characteristics to make this a vibrant and livable town. With our new look — the restored buildings and occupied storefronts — we also now offer an energized business community.
Within a one mile walk, downtown Brandon offers residents and visitors a bank (locally owned and run), municipal offices, medical offices (general practitioners, dental, chiropractic, and veterinarian), two pharmacies, a supermarket, post office, a hardware store, a florist, lumberyard, a bookstore, hair salons, a woman’s fitness club, insurance, legal, and real estate offices, library, laundromat, restaurants, video store, clothing shops, gift shops, two fine country inns, several bed & breakfast inns, antique shops, art galleries, and an art museum. Add to that three town greens, a pocket park with waterfall, and magnificent 19th century architecture.
The Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to be a part of Brandon’s “reawakening.” Like the Neshobe River, Brandon’s downtown has ebbed into a new place. But the foundation for this renewed vitality has always been here, strong and solid, resilient and proud. Come visit Brandon and all we have to offer. See for yourself a community working together to maintain, expand and secure what life in a New England village is meant to be.
Back to other media articles about Brandon |
|
|
|
