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A dad and his child play at one of the vintage pinball machines at Pastime Pinball. (Photo submitted)
My memories of summers during my childhood in Gloversville in the 1960s and 70s are filled with riding my bicycle across town with friends to spend long days at Littauer Pool, exploring Melchoir and Myers parks, buying treats at Candy Kitchen with the change we found along the sidewalks and two-week stints at Camp Cramer-Burton, the day camp run jointly by the YMCA and YWCA where my big sister was an arts and crafts counselor. If it was a good year, the family would venture to Storytown in Lake George, now the much bigger Six Flags Great Escape park. If it was a really good year the family would make the further trek across the state border to Vermont.
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In 1882 George Crowell, owner of the publication titled the âHousehold,â bought 30 acres of land from the Hines family. This property included the Hines Aqueduct Association and an unfinished reservoir, with springs located on what was then known as Hines Hill. The aqueduct and reservoir were begun by Isaac Hines but had not been developed since Hinesâ death in 1876. This aqueduct association was the very beginning of what is now the Brattleboro Water Department.
When Crowell purchased the 30 acres of land from the Hines family he had initially thought to develop the reservoir and form building lots on the property. The aqueduct water system supplied houses in Forest Square (Cedar, Spruce, and Myrtle streets). Crowell renamed the property Chestnut Hill and decided to create a park for the public instead of producing building lots for housing development. Crowellâs publication, the âHousehold,â helpe