Business & Economics

Located in the southern region of the White Mountains, Campton was granted its charter in 1767 by Gov. John Wentworth, who was in office between 1767 and 1775. Early settlers from Connecticut and Massachusetts were lured by the beauty of the rivers and mountains and beckoned by the fertile fields and virgin forests. Generations that followed the Abenaki Indians transitioned from an agrarian society to one now dominated by the hospitality industry, providing today's inhabitants with jobs in tourism and recreation. Although local ski resorts and neighboring Plymouth State University remain the largest employers in the area, an increase in small businesses and self-employment opportunities began in the mid-20th century. However, it was the completion of I-93 through Campton in the late 1960s that changed many lives, providing an easy commute to jobs outside the immediate area. Without abandoning the values of its founders and what it means to be a community, Campton has fully embraced change over the centuries.

The town of East Windsor, incorporated in 1768, is situated in the center of northern Connecticut, with the Connecticut River as its western border. In the early 1600s, a few settlers crossed the great river to establish farms. East Windsor's rich and productive farmland served them well. Five distinct villages, each historically different, highlight the rich and diverse heritage of the town. Warehouse Point, with its proximity to the river, was a vital shipping and transportation hub. Scantic was started by a strong religious community devoted to God and families. Broad Brook had access to the millpond, which spurred the prosperous Broad Brook Company woolen mill. Melrose, established by farming families, is rooted in its agrarian past. Windsorville's location on the banks of Ketch Brook triggered villagers to build a dam and erect mills. Through it all ran the trolley line, which linked the villages and town with the surrounding area.

Martha's Vineyard became an integral part of the whaling industry at the beginning of the eighteenth century and inspired a lasting romantic enthusiasm for life on the open ocean. From shorewhaling to daring voyages into the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the insular whaling community offered a tempting path for many young Vineyarders to rise from cabin boy to captain. Local businesses were enticed by the potential profit from whaling voyages, and many reaped generous rewards from successful whale oil harvests. Through memoirs, music and memorabilia, author Thomas Dresser recounts this dramatic history of the bygone era of whaling on Martha's Vineyard.