This pictorial post is targeted for my readers at Valeria, the home of Dickerson Pond. I had a chance this afternoon to walk around the property where our developer, AVR Home Builders, has started some actual construction supporting their approved plans to add one hundred and forty-seven additional homes to the existing eighty now located on the Valeria property. I am adding some editorial comment to the photos but have not done as much homework that I should to support all of my narrative. Please feel free to make comments to clarify or correct some of my assumptions used in this posting.
My first photo captures a rare breed of prospective buyers on safari in the first new construction area just east of the existing Sales Office. This photo was taken with a powerful lens at a great distance in order not to frighten away this rare breed of post market crash home buyer from the site.
Later on I took a picture of the site of proposed Building 15 just after the potential buyers passed the spot.
Building 15 overlooks the new catch basin/pond that is being constructed. This area was a habitat area for box turtles. These turtles were relocated to a fenced in area on the opposite side of Furnace Dock Road. The site was maintained by two certified vegetarian goats now living in retirement on a farm in Vermont.
The large mound of dirt created by these modern day behemoths will be trucked across to the existing "ash pit" off the west side of Sniffen Mountain Road. 
I believe this area was a dumping area for the Valeria Home since the 1920's and deposits included ash from coal fired boilers. Here are some pictures of the ash pit area being prepared to be capped to seal the contents. I found evidence of bottles and broken pottery in the area. It appears it was a general garbage dump for the hotel.
This is a picture overlooking the fenced in relocated habitat for the migrant turtles.
This is roadside trash thrown from Furnace Dock Road into the area between the turtle habitat and the Valeria waste water treatment area.
Many Valeria residents have never visited the waste water treatment area. Here are some photos of this facility that has served the area since the 1920's. The big sandy areas are leech fields are the last stop for waste water before it flows into a tributary of Furnace Brook. The water coming out of the drain pipe looks very clean and the flow is fairly small.
These shots show the work being done to create our new garbage collection area which will be directly adjacent to the existing waste water treatment plant. The land will be leveled and a large fenced in concrete pad will be constructed that meets a new improved entrance road to the treatment plant and garbage collection area.
While walking back from this photo tour, I crossed the golf course. There in the middle the course was a coyote. Unfortunately I could get no closer than this.
5 comments:
Wow, Charlie
You seem to be right at the heart of the action. Thanks for all the photos and explanations. Did we detect a wry sense of humor behind some of the comments?
Looking forward to the next series.
Lucille and Marco G.
Charlie: How terrific and informative. And what a sluice hound you truly are. what next??? And just in case of need, what are your rates? Ingrid B.
Great documentation, Charlie! I can't wait to take my own jaunt through the woods and check it out!
I am waiting for "Candid Camera" to make it back on TV. Have camera, will travel.
I actually thought the "ash pit" area would be a good area for the local middle school to practice archeology in the field. I am certain some of the contents here go back to the mid 1920's. Could even be some baby pictures of John McCain!
I believe "ash" was/is actually used as a purifier for our water waste treatment.
Post a Comment