Willington on the Way August-2025

President’s Update

Here we are in the middle of summer—either the end of July or the beginning of August, depending on how you read your calendar—and the word down here is hot. Hot, with very little rain.

That being said, we had a very good month of July! We welcomed 214 visitors to the Bookshop and 102 visitors to the History Center and Curiosity Shop.

Speaking of the Bookshop, I’d like to introduce our new manager, Susan Ahlgren. She brings with her a professional background in marketing and sales and has already introduced some wonderful new additions. This is exactly why we value our volunteers—they bring fresh ideas and new eyes on how we operate.

About six years ago, when the board welcomed a new wave of volunteers, it took time to implement their ideas, but now just look around—the Bookshop, the History Center, and our new Curiosity Shop are practically transformed. Credit goes to strong leadership from both board members and volunteers. Personally, I’m always open to new ideas... unless it involves moving the building. Let’s keep the improvements indoors.

On the home front, our new sign has been installed! In the process, I discovered that the pole it hangs from probably belongs in a museum—it’s a handsome piece of metalwork, and from what I can tell, it's been standing tall since the 1920s. (And frankly, it might be the only thing not asking for shade.)

Also, I’m happy to report that the four windows in the Bookshop and annex are being replaced this month—just in time to let in more light and keep out the heat.

Finally, at the History Center, Erik and his team are continuing to refine and expand the exhibits. He's currently adding an entirely new wall dedicated to items from Willington’s rich past. Every time I stop by, I learn something new—sometimes about history, sometimes about where we stored something last week!

Barry Russell, President, Willington on the Way