Year in Review: Floods, Recovery, Construction Engage Hardwick

HARDWI(CK – Flood recovery, more flooding, more recovery, a library addition, several visits from Sen. Peter Welch, a Yellow Barn renovation and new accelerator building engaged Hardwick’s town government and citizens in 2024.

In January, the town focused on addressing the lingering damage from the July 2023 floods, with plans for permanent infrastructure repairs, including work on the Main Street retaining wall​. Planning for the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and library expansion projects took center stage during select board meetings​.

Weather events were a recurring theme of the year, with recovery and repair from 2023 flooding.

Flooding struck again in July, just one year after the catastrophic events of 2023. FEMA awarded Hardwick nearly $4 million for repairs, including the Main Street retaining wall and a flood-resilient bridge. Town Manager David Upson emphasized the importance of these projects for Hardwick’s future resilience. The weather events causing the flooding is discussed elsewhere by Tyler Molleur in weather review.

In that flood event, residents in low lying areas along Porter Brook, in the Atkins Field area once again had water in their homes and Stratton’s sawmill had water up to the shop’s doorknob, leaving Dave Stratton wondering what to do next as he worked to restore flooded electrical equipment. The town’s wastewater plan flooded and once again discharged untreated sewage into the Lamoille River for several hours after electrical equipment was rendered inoperable until an appropriate pump was obtained. That was made easier by lessons learned the previous year so the new pump arrived much more quickly this year.

Town Manager David Upon was working to fund a $1.7 million treatment plant upgrade project in October to make the facility more flood resilient.

The Inn by the River had been removed in the days before this year’s floods, which eliminated the bank where it had stood. Buddy Hays lost his neighboring bank, along with two cars and a truck with a plow that was recovered just past the Cottage Street Bridge, which miraculously survived the flooding, but might not have if remains of the inn had been there to wash downstream.

Afterward the road crew was kept busy repairing washed-out culverts, washed-out roadsides and working on bridges after six of them became impassable: Hardwick Farms Road bridge, was twice repaired temporarily in 2023 and washed out again in July. It has now been replaced by two temporary six-foot culverts. Bridges on Tucker Brook, Riverside Farm Roads and Fisher Folly have been replaced. The select board discussed options for the damaged Bridge 31 in East Hardwick, sometimes called the first Bend bridge to Stannard.

The town has found itself working with FEMA to get projects approved for flood repair and future mitigation, then jumping through bureaucratic hoops to get paid when the work has been completed. Hardwick has had sufficient reserve funds to support its cash flow needs, unlike many other area towns.

Several properties in town were offered buy-outs, which will result in town-owned open space. Others await final decisions.

The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) was closed west of town due to debris and washouts from the Yellow Barn to Fisher Bridge, and also in Walden, requiring a detour from Brick House Road in East Hardwick, to Ward Hill, reconnecting at Bailey Hazen Road. The trail was reopened to the west in September and east in October.

Infrastructure issues were a recurring theme of 2024. There have been fits and starts replacing the swinging bridge because the project now needs to include repairs to a Main Street retaining wall. That project is again going out to bid as the year ends.

The Jeudevine Library addition has been an ongoing project, with the exterior and much landscaping substantially complete in October, and work on the interior beginning in December substantially. Workers from contractor ReArch are now breaking through the wall of the original library to connect the two buildings. In December library staff and trustees were selecting paint and rug colors to finish the interior.

The Yellow Barn has been a multi-year project, now mostly complete with a Cabot Cheese retail store in the now-renovated barn that opened Saturday, August 24, offering LVRT riders a convenient stop as the summer biking season came to a close.

A retaining wall behind Mike’s Service Center on Main Street, that had the corner of their building unsupported, was repaired in September.

The Center for an Agricultural Economy’s spot in the town’s new accelerator building west of the barn had its grand opening celebration October 5, during the organizations 20 year anniversary celebrations.

The town asked water users to identify water pipes that might be made of lead, but only 78% had by late October, when the report was submitted to the state.

Hardwick began the year navigating icy roads and school closures, showcasing the region’s adaptability to tough weather conditions.

In Spring preparations, the library announced programming aligned with the expanded space​, trails and winter activities drew community members, emphasizing outdoor recreation in colder months​.

The town’s select board worked through the tight budgeting process, still balancing rising costs with the need for services. Public input shaped discussions, with appropriations to be voted on at March town meeting.

March was marked by lively discussions during Town Meeting Day. residents debated and voted on local budgets, including investments in schools and long-term projects to enhance the town’s resilience against flooding. Voter turnout at the in-person meeting was up since the Covid-19 era meetings.

In April the road crew focused on spring maintenance, including road repairs and trail updates.

An April 16 shooting, that was likely drug related, brought the Dartmouth helicopter to town as the victim was airlifted to the hospital there.

Peter Welch visited Hardwick May 29 to tour damaged infrastructure and facilities.

Hardwick celebrated spring with its annual Memorial Day Springfest parade and fair. This year’s activities included a midway created and staffed by Civic Standard employees and volunteers.

Local trails and the Lamoille River drew visitors in June.

The town enjoyed a surge in outdoor recreation as visitors and locals alike explored The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) and Hardwick Trails network. Initiatives to enhance the LVRT with trailheads gained momentum as the state held meetings to share options and collect public input.

In July, the town continued rebuilding after devastating floods in 2023 and 2024. FEMA awarded Hardwick nearly $4 million for critical repairs, including the Main Street retaining wall.

Peter Welch again visited town to tour damaged facilities along with Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore, July 17.

The Farmer’s Market brought residents together, featuring local produce, food vendors and crafts.

The Vermont Huts Association continued developing the Hardwick Hostel project. The select board’s support signaled progress toward making the town a key stop on the Velomont Trail.

The Downtown Partnership held a Hardwick Hoopla with street vendors and activities on Main Street, August 2.

The Peace Vigil continued on Fridays at the Peace Park, with Bread & Puppet Theater joining, August 29.

Students returned to classrooms in September, with educators and families collaborating to overcome lingering challenges from earlier disruptions.

The Civic Standard held a shindig at Atkins Field, September 11, where steamed mussels, corn and cole slaw were served while New Orleans band Tuba Skinny entertained and people danced under the pavilion. The Caja Madera Taco Truck offered a second food option.

Hardwick’s fall festivals and foliage viewers brought vibrancy to the town

The Walgreens store closed September 30, eliminating local access to prescriptions.

Efforts began to set the next year’s budget, balancing investments in infrastructure and community services while managing rising costs.

The Hardwick Trails hosted a record-breaking Pumpkin Walk, with over 500 attendees enjoying cider, donuts around a bonfire while a witch read non-scary stories.

OSSU began offering school-based health care in early November.

A November oil leak at Nine South Main emptied people from the building’s five occupied residences along with The Clip Joint and Nikki the Barber in the ground floor space. Work to clean up is ongoing December 18.

A November vote by Hardwick Academy alumni will have the school’s bell moving from the Memorial Park to Hazen Union School.

Hardwick Electric hired a new manager in November. She plans to start working for the department January 1.

Becky Butler, an occupational therapist with OSSU, was named a UVM Outstanding Educator in November and Hazen Union School choral music teacher Mavis MacNeil received a Vermont Music Educators Association award as the Outstanding New Music Educator of 2025.

Many organizations and businesses contributed to the Pies for People effort, filling Thanksgiving baskets with 300 pies this year.

RuralEdge took over management of Lamoille Housing Partnership’s Hardwick properties from Alliance Property Management on December 1.

An East Hardwick apartment fire, likely caused by an electrical fire, left 16 people homeless.

Hardwick celebrated the season with community events, including the lighting of the Memorial Park Christmas tree and a parade.

Proposed zoning changes in East Hardwick to combine three districts into one were discussed at a December 10 meeting,

The Hardwick Fire Department elected new officers for 2025, marking a transition in leadership after the retirement of long-serving Chief Tom Fadden.

Hazen Union Ski and Ride program is scheduled to have its first outing Friday, Dec. 20.​

Hardwick’s year highlighted its resilience, community engagement and dedication to sustainability. With these efforts, the town can look forward to further growth and progress in the year ahead.