Valley of Opportunity?

I've had this post rolling around in my head for a week now. I needed to get some pictures, and I wanted to get some thoughts together. Sweetfern's post, here, got me thinking.

This is my house.



It is affectionately known as an "EJ House." That is because it was built in 1937 by the Endicott Johnson Corporation for one of it's employees. The employee was then able to purchase the home, financed by EJ at a reasonable interest rate. We live in whole neighborhood of these EJ homes. They mostly consist of about 4 different designs, some a little bigger, some a little smaller. Over the years, different owners have personalized them, of course. It's a nice neighborhood. Good layout to walk, comfortable size lots, a neighborhood park. The park has a carousel, another gift from EJ-specifically from George F. Johnson.

Here's the entrance to the park.




Here's a close-up of the building directly across the street from the park.


Nice, huh? This, too, is a gift from EJ. These old, decrepit buildings litter my hometown. Once, they were vibrant and full of industrious people.

I have lived in the "Triple Cities" my whole life. The "Triple Cities" consists of Binghamton, Johnson City, and Endicott. You have probably figured out that Johnson City and Endicott were both named for the forebears of the Endicott Johnson Corporation. Though I have lived all over the area, I now live (and own a house) in Endicott. Endicott is not only the former home of EJ, but it is also the birthplace of IBM. Endicott was once teaming with engineers, factory workers, businessmen, machinists, and other assorted workers. My grandfather was one of them. He put in 30 years at IBM as a mechanic and retired with a nice clock and a pension. Though he was certainly never rich, he raised a family (FIVE kids), owned a comfortable house on a large plot of land, my grandmother never worked, was able to retire and travel until my grandmother fell ill. Both my grandparents endured lengthy illnesses before they passed away, but their health coverage kept them from going bankrupt.

My grandparents certainly weren't the only ones who lived this life story in "The Valley of Opportunity," as this area was once known. Through the generosity of the Johnsons at EJ and the shared success of IBM families were able to not only survive, but prosper-on one income.

Not so today. EJ moved out of the area and then folded completely in the late 80's. They left behind these big, empty building infested with who-knows-what. IBM moved out of the area in the 90's and left behind more buildings, most of which are still used. But they also left behind major ground pollution. Our entire neighborhood is polluted with TCE and various other chemicals. There is a ground water sample well directly in front of our house measuring the pollution levels. Luckily, the first results have shown that while our neighborhood is polluted our house and lot is thankfully not. And when EJ and IBM moved so did the jobs that brought prosperity to our valley. Not just the factory jobs but all the industries and shops that supported the communities around the factories. Gone. Empty. Falling apart. Just like that ugly eyesore a block and a half from my home. Directly across the street from the park my daughter will play in.

This community has such a rich history. I love living here. My friends and family are here and it is important that G have these things in her life. Most people will tell you that though there isn't a lot happening here, "it's a great place to raise a family." It has been. I hope it continues to be. Some of the recent headlines describing criminal activity have me worried. But I guess if all the good people leave to go elsewhere who will be left to save my hometown?

I'm sure this can be said of a lot of places, but Binghamton et al. is a complex area. There are some efforts underway to revitalize it...the downtown arts community and First Fridays, EIC, BU, natural gas drilling (at what cost, though?)... But there is always the negative naysayers who hold sway, too. "We can't do that here...that's not how it was done before...it will cost too much..." Frustrating.

I guess I don't have a lot to add to all of this, other than: I hope to be part of the solution, not the problem. I hope I can help create new communities and opportunities here. I'm trying. I have been working to get an innovative art and music program for kids up and running for 3 years now. I have the total support of my agency, STIC. It would be a great program; a space for kids to create and learn to express themselves in an integrated environment, to become a part of a larger arts community in Binghamton, to become interesting people. It is so close to becoming a reality but now the funding is threatened by bureaucrats in Albany. Frustrating. That seems to be the way it goes around here way too often. Someone has a great idea or an idea to address an existing problem in a creative way. But...something stops it, no money, no support. Frustrating.

Ugh, this was not really meant to be a negative, complaining post. It was just a jumble of thoughts running around my brain. So, there you go. I got nothin' else right now.