Waterbury State Office Complex. State of Vermont photo
CELEBRATE & COMMEMORATE 2011-2021
Vermont Business Magazine The Town of Waterbury will be celebrating and commemorating a decade of resilience and transformation from August 26 – 28, 2021. Events will be taking place throughout the three days and everyone is invited to join in for any and all of the activities.
The fun will begin on Thursday at the Waterbury Farmers Market and Concert in the Park with the well-known and lively WDEV Radio Rangers. A moment of recognition will be held for the 10-year anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene.
On Friday, August 27, lower Stowe Street will be closed to traffic from 4 pm-7:30 pm and beginning at 4:30 pm, The Barn Band will provide live music.
Guest speakers are scheduled at 5 pm and will address the past ten years of recovery progress since Tropical Storm Irene followed by several years of road projects ending with the 3-year Main Street Reconstruction project in the core of the downtown.
Join the Town and members of the Agency of Transportation for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the official opening of the street at the corner of Stowe Street and Main Street at 5:30 pm. Traffic along Main Street will be temporarily paused while this takes place.
Following the ribbon cutting, Waterbury Arts will unveil a new work of public art outside Axel’s Gallery and Frame Shop. The art depicts a large Phoenix rising from the muddy ashes of Waterbury, and represents how the Town has recovered from Tropical Storm Irene. The Barn Band will continue to play while those celebrating can stroll downtown and visit the After Irene Floodgates Art Project Revisited exhibit, enjoy the new streetscape, and visit our downtown shops and restaurants.
On Saturday, August 28, there are several historic walking tours available, providing the opportunity to learn more about the important architecture around Rusty Parker Memorial Park and Stowe Street. In addition, there will be two tours (9 am and 1 pm) of the State Office Complex led by David Schutz, the curator of the Vermont Statehouse.
These tours will show the transformation and floodproofing of the Waterbury State Office Complex after Tropical Storm Irene. The tours begin at the steps of the main entrance at the backside of the complex and will be outside except for the main lobby of the new building with local artist, Sarah-Lee Tarrat’s two-story mural.
The morning will also include the premiere of: The 2011 Flood: Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene, a film on the impact of Tropical Storm Irene in Waterbury, sponsored by the Waterbury Historical Society and screened at the Steele Community Room (28 North Main Street) at 10 am.
Following the initial premiere, the film and two additional presentations, including a slide show of the 3-year Main Street Reconstruction project and “The Spirit of Vermont,” a music video by Jeb Wallace-Brodeur on the immediate impacts after Tropical Storm Irene set to The Barn Band’s original song. The three portions will be shown on a loop between 10 am and 1 pm. Guided tours of the History Center will also be available 10 am-1 pm.
Sidewalk sales and restaurant specials will be happening throughout town. MakerSphere will provide a special art activity, entitled Facing the Pandemic - Alone & Together and the After Irene Floodgates Arts Project Revisited at Axel’s Gallery will be available for viewing on Saturday from 10 am-4 pm. Please come down and take part in this special occasion.
Furniture and fixtures removed from the Waterbury State Office Complex.
For more information, a list of participating stores and restaurants, go to www.waterburyworks.com/celebrate.