Bytes from the Bean by Joe Manning 2-4-9912:00AM / Thursday, February 04, 1999
Chuck Wilson was the first person I talked to in North Adams on my first visit more than two and a half years ago. It was a hot summer day, and there was practically no one on the street. Just before I headed home, I wandered into Gateway and asked him about the city. Five minutes with Chuck got me pretty excited about the place, and I told my wife that we ought to come back another day and look around, when we had more time. And so I did.
You know those Norman Rockwell paintings with the corner druggist or the friendly grocer in them? North Adams seems to have more than its share of those types, and Chuck is one of them.
Of course, some folks over at The Bean were already predicting the death of the city, but I would have none of it. I told somebody, "There will be a few more failures, but many more successes." And Gateway was hardly a failure. Chuck fixed up that spot and made it a jewel on Main Street. The only thing he didn't do was sell as many shirts as The Gap. This is an all too familiar story these days. The malls and the catalogs and the Internet are replacing America's storefronts.
Pessimists have only four words in their language: "I told you so." Optimists speak the language of the spirit, and Chuck speaks it fluently. About 3:30, as I was crossing the Hadley Overpass on my way south, WNAW was playing part of an interview with Chuck. I heard him say, "I still believe in Main Street, and I still believe in Main Street, North Adams."
Thanks Chuck. I needed that.
Next week, I'll be up three times! Tuesday, the 9th, I'm doing a show on WUPE in Pittsfield in the morning and speaking later at the North Adams Rotary Club Luncheon. On Friday, I'll be talking about my new book at Papyri Books at 2:30. It's "Love Our Locals" week, and Papyri has lots of events. Come down and say "Hello." On Saturday, I've got an exciting interview planned. More next week.
Visit Joe's website at: www.sevensteeples.com.
Email Joe at: manningfamily@rcn.com.
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