Committee forms to "Beautify Beverly"

by David W. Wetherill

        "To Beautify Beverly"

        This sentiment was express in one way or another throughout the first meeting of a volunteer group formed to decorate the empty store windows on Warren Street.  Gail Cook and Beverly Haaf agree that our city is overdue for self-improvement.  They also agree that this calls for community action.  They contacted people who might feel the same way to form a group to get the ball rolling.

        Eighteen people of various ages, including the Beverly City Mayor, Beverly residents, Beverly business owners and three representatives from Edgewater Park (one who grew up in town and two who plan to move here) gathered in the Beverly Free Library on September 6 to formulate a plan of action.

        One young couple, relatively new to Beverly City, said they were attracted to the town because of the beautiful houses and fine architecture.  Another new resident spoke of coming to Beverly out of weariness with the suburban sprawl where the homes all tend to look alike and a car is necessary to go anywhere, to do anything.

        She said, "People are once again seeing the charm of small towns.  I came to Beverly because I wanted to live where I could walk to everything."

        The trouble s, "everything" isn't here right now.

        Mayor Bob Lowden, who grew up in Beverly said, "I used to do my Christmas shopping for my whole family in Beverly -- there were that many stores."

        Warren Street, our major through street, is the street by which our city is most often judged.  Warren Street should reflect the best of what our historic river city has to offer to residents, visitors and business people.  It currently fails to do that.

        With a few bright exceptions, people see to many empty stores, litter along the streets and side walks, building and grounds that show neglect and loiterers.

        Everyone in the group agreed they wanted to see an improved downtown, with the empty stores filled with attractive businesses that will draw people in, but they also agreed that right now, too much of Warren Street looks as if nobody cares.

        But there are people who care -- people who are willing to work to prove it.  Ideas to improve the appearance of Warren Street were exchanged in a lively discussion.

        Members of the group acknowledged that it will take city wide cooperation to solve some of the problems that were pointed out.  There is also the problem of insufficient parking, which again is beyond the scope of this group.  In both cases, however, the interest of this group may encourage the plans the city already has toward solving those problems.

        The "Beautify Beverly" group (a more formal name may be chosen at a later date, but this working title describes the group's aim) decided that the first empty windows to be decorated will be the show windows of the former Weiss Hardware store.  The windows are large, the location is prominent and the owner has express an interest.

        What exactly will be done?  The question arose:  "Are we just talking about decorating the windows or are we talking about creating the look of real stores?"  And, "If we make one or two empty stores look like real working stores, like, say a tea shop or an antique shop could the shops be manned by volunteers and have times when they would actually be open for business?"

        In addition to imply decorating the windows there was the suggestion of a theme.  Perhaps the window treatments could reflect the town's history.

        A committee was formed to formulate specific recommendations on what can be done in the Weiss building to begin with the transformation of Warren Street.

        At the 9 p.m. close of the meeting members of the committee walked from the library on Cooper Street to the Weiss Building on Warren Street to begin the formulation of their plan.  This committee will report to the group and tasks will be delegated to bring about the realization of this first step of the group's overall plan.

        Interested in being notified of future meetings?  Sign up at the Beverly Free Library on Cooper Street or call (609)387-1773.