The Walpolean

Public Event Will Bring Guests Back to the 1890s

Beautifully-preserved, hand-written notes tell the story of the founding of Meeting Waters YMCA back in 1895. Several organizational meetings were held throughout 1894 and 1895 leading up to a vote among more than 100 founding members on September 2, 1895. That night, the Bellows Falls YMCA was born.

Photo: The minutes from the September 2, 1895 meeting.

On Thursday, August 13^th, hundreds of current Y leaders, volunteers, participants, and staff, along with others from the past, will gather at the regional Y’s Lewis Day Camp facility to celebrate the early years of the organization’s rich history. The event is free and open to the public. It begins at 7:00 pm.

“An organizing task force of volunteers and staff has planned a fun evening,” said Meeting Waters YMCA’s Executive Director, Steve Fortier.  “Participants will get to learn about our first couple of decades of impacts through interactive activities. We’re excited to celebrate this important milestone with volunteers, donors, staff members and program participants—all of whom have played important roles in sustaining and growing our organization over the years.”

Meeting Waters YMCA’s 52-acre Lewis Day Camp facility is located on Missing Link Road (Route 5) in Springfield, VT. It is just one-half mile off of Route 91 at Exit 7. For more information, contact the Y at your local phone number (Brattleboro area: 246-1036; Bellows Falls/Fall Mountain area: 802-463-4769; or Springfield area: 885-8131) or by emailing info@meetingwatersymca.org.

Meeting Waters YMCA is a charitable, social service organization serving the Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, Springfield and Fall Mountain regions. It strengthens the foundations of community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

July 27^th, 2015

To all our friends & customers:

On July 27^th, 2015, after 30 years in business, Real to Reel, Inc. will be ending its video rental business, as well as closing Churchill’s Fine Cigars.

Starting on Thursday, July 30^th, at 10am and throughout the month of August and into early September, we will be selling off our huge inventory of over 20,000 DVD movies as well as our inventory fine handmade cigars.

US Cellular has indicated to us their desire to continue to maintain a location here in Walpole.  We expect that a US Cellular agency will remain open in Walpole to serve our many US Cellular customers, but this will be done under new management.  Throughout August and into early September, Real to Reel’s US Cellular department will remain  open for business as usual.

Real to Reel leased it’s first storefront back in 1984 and opened for business in March of 1985.  At the time, we shared a building with a shoe store and Montgomery Wards.  Growth came so quickly that by 1987 we had to build our own 5000 sq/ft building just up the road, at what is now North Meadow Plaza.  At it’s peak, Real to Reel, Inc. had its main store in Walpole and six satellite video rental departments in general stores in various surrounding towns.

It has been an exciting and enjoyable thirty years bringing the best of Hollywood, the BBC, foreign cinema and documentaries to our friends and neighbors.  For many year we were also one of the regions largest exclusive Panasonic/Technics dealers.  We shared in the excitement of introducing VHS players, video cameras, CD Players and DVD players to the area and had the pleasure of representing Onkyo, Boston Acoustics, and Polk audio equipment. Real to Reel was also the first to bring cell phones to the area over 15 years ago.

Like so many businesses today, the digital age finally caught up with Real to Reel.  Real to Reel, Inc. is now the last standing video rental store in Cheshire County, our friends at Video Headquarters in Keene, having closed this July.

We’d like to thank the many people who supported our business over the years and also our current wonderful loyal staff and alumni. Gale and I are now looking forward to a relaxing retirement.

Thanks so much for your help in our success. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Our Best Regards to All,

Phil & Gale Davis,

Real to Reel, Inc.

Phil and Gale – know that, even with “the digital age”, you will be missed.  I’m sure I am not alone in wishing you well in your retirement! – Lil