Every individual matters.

Every individual has a role to play.

Every individual makes a difference.

~ Jane Goodall

It’s unusual for a small Vermont town like Norwich to be featured on the CBS national news because of its citizens’ goodwill. But that’s exactly what happened in early December when Dan & Whit’s general store owner Dan Fraser put out a plea for help due to the statewide worker shortage. Every position needed to be filled or the store would close. That’s when community members stepped forward and volunteered to stock the shelves and run the registers. Remarkable as the turnout has been, and it has been an amazing event, this is far from the first time the people of Norwich, sometimes as a group, sometimes as individuals, have stepped forward. It seems to be a town tradition. At the top of any list of community caretakers must come Elsie Sniffin, whose good works and selfless devotion to Norwich spread over nearly 50 years.

Elsie was born on August 25, 1915, in Norwalk, Connecticut. Her father was a member of the Masons and as a girl, Elsie joined the Rainbow Girls Club, an offshoot of the Masons that taught leadership training through community service to young women. According to the club’s literature, “The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls believes that through helping others, we truly help ourselves. The benefits a young girl can gain from performing acts of kindness are endless.” The club’s message had a large impact on Elsie. When she turned 21, she became the leader of her local Rainbow Girls club, making her the youngest person in Connecticut ever to hold that position.  

Following the completion of a two-year business course in 1935, she became a salesperson for H.L. Green Co., a nationally known variety store. In a year she became a cashier and office supervisor, in 1942 assistant manager, and in 1948, Elsie became the first woman in the company’s history to be promoted from store ranks to executive offices as assistant to the personnel director of the company. In this position, she created and developed training programs and manuals for store personnel in the company’s 140 stores.

In 1959 Elsie and her friend, Ruth Peet, bought 150 acres of land in Beaver Meadow on the western edge of Norwich and visited the property in the summers. When H.L. Green was purchased by a larger firm in 1961, Elise and Ruth moved to the area permanently. According to the town report of 2008 that was dedicated to Elsie, “The road to Norwich was mostly dirt and old Charlie Hodgdon was convinced that ‘the girls’ (as they were affectionately known) would not last that first winter!” They did.

Elsie found work right off the bat as a secretary in the Department of Sociology at Dartmouth and worked there for 13 years. In 1974, she left the academic life to begin her third career as a lister for the town of Norwich, a position she held for sixteen years. “The town office personnel were like one big family,” said Deb VanArman whose mother, Janet Pierce, was the town clerk at that time. “They celebrated birthdays together and socialized together.”

Beyond her jobs, Elsie found time to bolster the spirits of her neighbors. “She was a one-person welcoming committee,” said Donna Wheeler, a Beaver Meadow neighbor of Elsie’s. “When you moved into the area, she stopped by with a card and a small gift.” If someone was ill, Elsie would visit or bring over a meal. “She was so caring and tried to keep the community strong. And she was so organized she could do it.” In addition to her efforts on the individual level, Elsie worked hard to revitalize the spirit of the community, whether it was in Beaver Meadow or Norwich. No better example of her civic spirit can be shown than the work she did for the Beaver Meadow Chapel.

The history of Beaver Meadow Chapel began in October of 1915, when Margaret Kerr, a retired teacher from New York, bought a small farm in Beaver Meadow. Early on, she described her neighbors as “very poor, a good deal of drinking and rough everywhere.” Kerr felt that a chapel could help “raise the standard of living.” The idea was approved by her neighbors and land was donated for the chapel. Men in the village volunteered to build the structure and several women along with Miss Kerr visited business leaders and asked for donations. A druggist in Hanover, L.B. Downing, donated a Bible and the first sermon was given by a Dartmouth student on December 19, 1915.

When Elsie and Ruth arrived in Beaver Meadow, the chapel needed repair and was rarely used. So, Elsie went to work. She “retrieved the chapel organ from the town historical society where it had been kept for safekeeping” and talked with her neighbors about starting services again. Her good name and friendly approach encouraged people from the area to support the project. As Wheeler noted, “She had a way about her that made it easier to say yes than no to her.” Elsie’s efforts paid off and the chapel, with a new roof, reopened. The congregation met on the third Sunday of each month from March to December. In recent years services have been trimmed to the third Sunday of each month from May to December.  

From the start, Elsie felt the chapel, with its small steeple and white clapboards, built in a hollow between two hills and tight to the road, was a New England treasure that needed to be preserved. So, she and other members of the community went through the lengthy, but successful process to have the building placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Using the writing and research from the project, Elsie organized a book about the chapel and the Beaver Meadow community, The Good Men Do which was published in 2003.

According to the biographical notes attached to her funeral program, Elsie’s hobbies “included writing, reading, cooking, and beekeeping.” But when anyone examines the number of organizations that claimed Elsie as a member, it’s hard to imagine she had time to eat and sleep, let alone time for beekeeping. Through the years she was a trustee of the Norwich library, board member and treasurer of the Norwich Senior Housing, and director and treasurer of the Beaver Meadow Chapel Association. She was also a member of the University Grange, the Norwich Historical Society, the Women’s Club, and the Congregational Church. But, according to the program, her favorite hobby was “loving and caring for her family and many beloved friends.”

When people who knew her are asked about Elsie, they acknowledge her community achievements, but then enthusiastically detail the warmth and care she showed to others. Once, a neighbor, recently widowed, needed housing, so Elsie provided her with a rent-free condo for two years. “She was the kindest person and just revered,” said Deb VanArman. “When my mother was failing and about to die, Elsie visited her every day. When she couldn’t visit, she called.” According to VanArman, Elsie helped her community in so many ways. “Elsie was the first person to reach out to those in need. She’d give a ride to anyone in the Meadow who needed a way to get to ‘town,’ provided food for the sick and needy, and shared the history of the Meadow with anyone.”  

In 2004, well into her 80s, Elsie helped organize an art auction to fund the Norwich Historical Society’s move from its Church Street location to the Lewis House on Main Street. Over 50 artists donated works and the auction raised more than $10,000. According to a NHS tribute, Elsie was a visionary board member, who “championed the purchase of the Lewis House not only as the home of the Historical Society but also as a community center. She saw the move bringing us all together for the greater good, something for which she worked tirelessly all her life.”

In 2005 Elsie was awarded a Vermont Public Service Award by the Vermont secretary of state for her lifelong service to the town of Norwich. In 2006 she was made an honorary trustee of the Norwich Historical Society.

In her final years, Elsie had discussed with friends how she planned to celebrate her 100th birthday and the 100th anniversary of the Beaver Meadow Chapel in the summer of 2015. She wanted to hire a horse and carriage and ride neighbors by the chapel and around the Meadow. But, alas, this was one goal Elsie did not reach, for she passed away in 2008. Yet her contributions live on today throughout the area, as does the memory of her goodwill and friendship. As Nancy Osgood, a past president of the historical society, noted shortly after Elsie’s death, “I don’t think that I will ever enter the Meadow without thinking of her.”

“How can we help?” Reverend Jan Hutslar and the folks at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley in Norwich were able to answer this question by hosting the retrofitted RV that Simon Dennis, director of the Center for Transformation Practice (CTP) in Hartford, and his team put together to house two previously un-housed persons. 

The RV has been outfitted into two apartments that can each house a person comfortably with the necessary amenities for most activities of daily life. The church first became involved in the project after Dennis sent a letter to the congregation gauging their interest in hosting the RV home. “Dennis had been a guest speaker around issues the un-housed face in our community at the church early this past fall. It really sparked a lot of conversations. People spoke with Dennis following the service and asked, ‘How can we be involved? How can we help?’” Rev. Hutslar says. 

After Dennis presented the project to the board, the response was immediately positive. “I was really impressed,” Rev. Hutslar says, “The board said there’s no question if we can be of help here, we want to do it. It’s what our values tell us.” Rev. Hutslar met with Dennis and the prospective tenants. “We talked and got to know each other,” Rev. Hutslar says, and the tenants moved onto the property. 

The congregation welcomed the tenants, and they became part of the church community. Several members of the congregation connected with the tenants in particular – a member who works as the church groundskeeper knitted hats for the tenants. The church grounds feature a big apple tree whose apples often go to the Haven food shelves and that the congregation may use as they wish; Rev. Hutslar recalls one of the tenants, who grew up on a farm, utilizing some of those apples to make applesauce over their small Coleman stove. 

Originally from Indiana, Rev. Hutlsar first came to the Upper Valley four years ago after graduating from her seminary program in California. She interviewed with four different churches in New England but fell in love with the church here in Norwich. “Luckily they wanted me, too,” she laughs, “I love it and I love them. They’re pretty wonderful. It’s really rewarding and it’s an honor. I’m really grateful.” 

The RV and its tenants were allowed to stay at the church in Norwich for 30 days, according to town regulations. Rev. Hutslar noted it has been difficult for CPT to find places to park the RVs. “Churches and communities want to help, but town regulations do get in the way of that.” She hopes that this story will draw more attention to the issues around housing people in the Upper Valley and that the town ordinances, such as the 30-day limit, that exist can be addressed “so we can keep our neighbors a little safer and a little more protected from the elements.” This extremely cold weather, Rev. Hutslar notes, makes it even more imperative to help community members who don’t have a warm place to live. 

The RV and its tenants moved to the First Congregational Church in Lebanon following their stay in Norwich. After their time allowed in Lebanon ended as well, the RV has found another new home for the time being. “We all said goodbye and hugged,” Rev. Hustlar says, “The next time I went into church, it felt so lonely. They were our neighbors for a month. It was a little sad; I missed them.” 

Even with the tenants no longer living at the church, the positive impact of their stay continues. Rev. Hutslar still checks in with tenants regularly and members of the congregation remain connected to them. A group of congregation members help the tenants out with rides in and out of town for errands and job interviews. One member was with a tenant when she received the job offer which she has since accepted. “It’s nice to see how we can help each other out,” Rev. Hutslar says. The congregation has also since collected warm blanks, clothing, and rugs to help keep the units warm this winter. “I know people like to help,” Rev. Hutslar says, “It’s a big problem and if we can help one or two people, it makes a difference.”  

A local store struggles to maintain staffing during the Covid pandemic and is faced with the possibility of having to shutter for good. The owner throws a Hail Mary pass and puts out a call for help to the community – would residents and customers be willing to take a weekly shift? And in a resolution fit for a Christmas movie, many people answered the call. The store is saved.

Of course, this isn’t a Hallmark movie, and it isn’t any local store. It’s the true story of how Dan & Whit’s stayed in business despite losing most of its staff due to the exigencies of a global pandemic. 

It’s a heartwarming tale and one that we all needed to hear. And as such, everyone has had a crack at it. VPR did a piece on it. Steve Hartman came out with cameras and lights and interviewed co-owner Dan Fraser for his CBS Evening News segment On the Road. Robert Reich, political commentator, and former Secretary of Labor wrote a column on it. Even the Vermont Retail & Grocers Association featured an account on their blog. 

But Dan & Whit’s belongs to Norwich. The struggle to staff the store is Norwich’s struggle. Those two dozen relief employees are Norwich. The problem happened to Norwich, and the solution was found in Norwich. The story belongs to Norwich.

And so, it is only fitting for the Norwich Times to show you the people who made it possible for Dan & Whit’s to keep their doors open. Why did they do it? What is it about Dan & Whit’s that motivated so many people to step up and help?

Peggy Morin, 74, had two careers prior to her stint at Dan & Whit’s. After practicing as an attorney for 20 years, Peggy earned her MFA in drama and joined the theater faculty at SUNY Stony Brook. Now retired, Peggy heard from a friend about Dan’s letter to the Norwich Listserv. She had “enjoyed the institution for many, many years. And I’m also aware of the fact that Dan & Whit’s does a great deal for its community.” She thought, “I can certainly spare some hours.” Telling the story, she said with a laugh, “Not that I would be the greatest sandwich maker in the world.” 

But the beauty of Dan’s proposal is the flexibility he offers. The first thing he asks his relief workers is, “what do you want to do?” The workers are assigned to jobs and tasks that suit them best. In Peggy’s case, that meant organizing clothing. “Most costume people are familiar with the strategies about how to organize a large costume collection. It’s a little bit like a library system. You need, say, a Captain Hook… in a size 20.” You need to figure out how to set it up so customers can easily find things. “It means that costume people have a pretty good sense about complicated organization of clothing pieces.” Contrast that with sorting t-shirts in the stock room. “There’s nothing complicated about what we’re doing here. I’m not trying to pretend this is rocket science. I’m just trying to set it up so that they can come back here and grab things in five seconds.” 

Why is it important to Peggy not to let Dan & Whit’s close? “In addition to the public service that Dan & Whit’s has exhibited so much through the years, I think for some people it’s a reminder that life does not need to be so complicated. The motto, ‘If we don’t have it, you don’t need it’ is probably not exactly true. I think the idea that you can find everything under one roof, the way you could in your grandparents’ day, probably has a little nostalgia connected with it as well as some truth.” For someone who spent many years in New York, Norwich has something special. “I love a smaller community kind of life, with the degree of accountability that exists. Not that I know all my neighbors, but I live in a wonderful neighborhood with neighbors who look out after each other. There’s something, I think, about the nostalgia for life in a rural community that people want to keep going. And Dan is such a smart proprietor too. He’s sensitive to the needs and always looking for ways to make it a nice place for people to drop in to find what they need. I mean, it would be sad if we only had Wal-Marts left, wouldn’t it?”

Thirty-five-year-old Maggie Ronan moved to the Upper Valley a year and a half ago to be closer to family. She is pursuing a graduate degree in computer science at Northeastern University and, with all the classes being remote these days, needed something that would get her out of the house. When she saw Dan’s letter, she was impressed with its innovative approach, and it appealed to “some values I have around groups of people working together as a community. Partly, it’s selfish. I go to Dan & Whit’s all the time as a customer, and I didn’t want it to close. And the idea of people who lived nearby getting more involved was interesting. And for me, it really worked out because it got me out of the house and interacting with people in real life, since I spend so much time on the computer.”

Dianne Miller, 68, a registered nurse and project manager for regional development at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, said of answering Dan’s plea, “He made it so welcoming. He asked people what you would like to do, instead of telling you what you were going to do,” she said. “I told him I don’t want to run the cash register, but I’m fairly good at merchandising. It was Halloween, so getting all that stuff out and then putting that away and getting out the Christmas stuff. It’s quite a bit of work – lots of boxes to unpack, up and down ladders, reaching higher shelves, lifting, cleaning.” Dianne put up a Christmas tree to help display and sell Christmas ornaments. She pointed out that with staffing so restricted, the regular employees “don’t have time for that kind of stuff. So, if you can do something that is extra, that’s really appreciated.”

What is it about Dan & Whit’s that brought so many people forward when Dan made his request? “Dan & Whit’s is so much more than just a general store. It really is integral to the community. They have done so much for the community that it is so natural to want to help them. They are a place where people will gather, meet. You can say to somebody, leave it at Dan & Whit’s, and I’ll pick it up later. During Covid, they were out there doing email orders, bagging them, delivering them. They just really stepped up.”

Matt Merrens, 81, a retired research psychologist with Dartmouth Medical School, took the approach that several others took. He answered Dan’s request by offering to volunteer; he didn’t need the money he would earn from the job.When Matt had heard about the situation, “I was startled by it. I thought, this institution just can’t close.” Of course, driving around, he could see “every place was looking for workers, but for it to happen to Dan & Whit’s just struck me.” Because Dan & Whit’s is a business, not a nonprofit, Dan could not accept the offers to work for free. Matt agreed to help at the store on the condition that his wages be donated. “He gives me a check, and I endorse it to the Haven, and everything’s good.”

Matt continued, “I gotta tell you something he does. We punch in, punch out, and about once a week, he writes you a little, almost, love note – a little skinny piece of paper in which he thanks you for being there. Tells me I’m doing well and all kinds of praise. It’s just a darling little thing that he does for all of us. He’s a real gem.”

What’s so important about Dan & Whit’s? “Well, it’s a store that’s been here a long time. Working there, I see the same people every morning, pick up a coffee, pick up a newspaper. In the month I’ve been there, I’ve gotten to know some of these people. It’s just the heart and soul of the community in a lot of ways. If it closed, it would be a big loss. It’s old, it’s got three wood furnaces that heat the place. It’s been there forever; the floors are beaten down. It’s got a certain feeling about it… I don’t know. I’ve always felt that way about the store. It has a feeling about it that I don’t think the community wants to lose at all. I want to say to you, I think I’m getting a lot out of this personally, as well as helping the store and the community. I didn’t expect that. When I signed up, I didn’t think I’d feel personally benefited by it. And I do. I do.”

Nancy Tehan, 70, a registered nurse, has been going to Dan & Whit’s ever since she moved to the Upper Valley in 1978. When she heard about the staffing issue, Nancy knew it was important to help the community. “Dan & Whit’s is not only the heartbeat of the community – and I know you’ve heard that before – but it’s a place where I see so many wonderful things going on. In years past, there were people who couldn’t afford food, and there was a bartering system. Dan & Whit’s has always taken care of their neighbors. It’s always been about them taking care of the community, and I just thought it was time for… me, at least, to pitch in and take care of our Dan & Whit’s.”

Betsy Maislen, 68, brings a unique perspective to her work at Dan & Whit’s. A retired nurse practitioner, she worked in cardiothoracic surgery at DHMC for years. As a relief worker at Dan & Whit’s, she learned to work the cash register and the gas pumps. And when lines are long, and maybe patience is wearing thin, Betsy takes it all in stride. In one of his weekly notes to her, Dan mentioned that she doesn’t seem to get flustered by much. But compared to cardiothoracic surgery, grocery shopping is not something to get upset about. “My decisions [at the hospital] were sometimes very much life-and-death. But if someone has to wait an extra two minutes in line to get their groceries checked out – nobody’s gonna die.”  

Asked why it’s important to keep Dan & Whit’s running, Betsy said, “I could not imagine the town of Norwich without Dan & Whit’s. Could not imagine it. It’s like a beehive down there, with people coming and going all the time. It’s the center of our town. I thought, well, I’ll do my part. Also, I felt I’ve never been able to do anything for Dan. At the beginning of the pandemic, it seemed like he was working 24/7 to make sure everybody in town was safe. I don’t think I can think of another single individual who has done more for our community. This is one thing I could do for him. And I was happy to do that.”

For Jan Scheiner, 60, a clinical psychologist who has lived in Norwich since 1998, the decision to take a shift at Dan & Whit’s came easily. The pandemic has brought a lot of stress and grief, as every person on this planet knows. In her work, Jan sees firsthand the struggles people are going through. It can be a challenge to let all that stress go at the end of the day. She hoped that working at Dan & Whit’s would give her respite. And it did. “Scanning groceries is very pure. Very concrete.”

Jan describes Norwich as an “effective community,” something that she focuses on a lot in her work. “Effective communities have a willingness to pull together to solve problems.” Jan also noted that Dan & Whit’s has enjoyed the benefit of serving a population that was able to answer Dan’s call. “You have to recognize the privilege in this solution,” she said, “the privilege of time and money” that allowed people to step up and take a job for which they didn’t need the income.

In talking with some of the people who came to work at the store when Dan sent out his plea, it becomes clear what an idea factory Dan Fraser is. His background in special education for the Norwich school informs his approach. He has that creativity toward problem-solving, the understanding and compassion for humanity, and the ability to meet people where they are. As Jan said, “he walks the walk. And it’s hard to say no when he asks.”

“Hey mom! What kind of dogs are those?”

“Those are probably street dogs, Azor,” Aimee responded. “They’re called village dogs here.”

“Well, where’s the owner? And why are they out on the streets?”

“They don’t really have owners. That’s why they’re called village dogs. They kind of have their own communities.”

“Ok, well can we feed them? Can we take them home? They look starving, and they’re all so skinny!”

“You can feed them, but we can’t take them home.  I know it’s hard but there is not a lot we can do.”

It was 2010. Aimee Goodwin and her sons, Azor and Sam, along with Eydie, John, and Brook Leigh, also of Norwich, were cycling the streets of Tulum, Mexico. They had spent the past week coming across various “callejeros,” or Mexican “street dogs” that are often good-natured but don’t have official homes. After witnessing her children’s outreach of kindness for these dogs, Aimee reflected on how she had just responded to Azor. Did I really just tell my son that we can’t do anything to help? What kind of message is that to leave with my kids? Or with myself? 

•  •  •  •  •

The Goodwin family returned home to Norwich. The family had left the village dogs in Tulum, but they had adopted a newfound sense of urgency and a strong desire to help alleviate the stress placed on many of these dogs. After recognizing that she and her boys certainly had the capacity to do something, Aimee decided to propose a family rescue trip to Puerto Rico. Only this time, they wouldn’t just feed the dogs. The Goodwins returned home from their first trip alongside two “Satos,” one adopted by them and the other by Michelle and Dan Gottlieb, formerly of Norwich. Aimee knew she had found her calling. More importantly, she understood that she could share this sense of purpose with others, particularly high school students who needed unique service opportunities.   

“Most high school students struggle to find service options that work for them,” Aimee notes. “I know many that age who would be hard-pressed to help other humans. But puppies. Dogs. That’s what always makes this effort worth it: to stumble upon those little unanticipated moments in which students just melt while helping these dogs.”

With the initial framework in place, Aimee just needed to garner the support of the Dresden School Board. Who will go on a trip like this? Will students really be interested in such a logistical nightmare? And they were right to ask these questions. Who would sign up to spend their vacation grappling with the reality of luring, trapping, and rescuing stray dogs in Puerto Rico when they could be on the beach somewhere? Aimee’s idea solidified: Surf and Satos. She organized the trip around cultural immersion with a service component. Approximately 300 students applied to go on Surf and Satos’ inaugural trip in 2016. 

This first group of students and community members rescued 9 Satos from Puerto Rico, all of which were adopted by families within the Upper Valley.  Word of mouth led to demand for more of these awesome dogs and soon Aimee Goodwin was, officially, the proud owner of…50 Satos from Puerto Rico. She recognized, quickly, that if they were going to be bringing home this many dogs on each trip, she would need additional support from the community. Aimee hosted a dinner at her home in Norwich and invited friends and family to engage in a brainstorming session as to how best to move forward with this initiative. From that dinner, “Student Rescue Project” was born and incorporated in 2017. They have since run service trips to The Bahamas, Costa Rica and, of course, Puerto Rico.  They have even delivered dogs rescued from Puerto Rico to American service members stationed abroad in Germany. To date, SRP has worked with over 200 students and community members helping the endeavor and has rescued, vetted, and rehomed over 1200 dogs. 

“These trips continue to give students an understanding of how our conception of dog ownership, here in Norwich and around New England, differs from the concepts of ownership in other places,” Aimee reflected. “Puerto Rico is also a place where I feel comfortable taking students. We have formed some great relationships there, we have ground transportation, and we work with the locals to help as many dogs as we can. With such a strong foundation, we can really get a lot done there and safely expose volunteers to the raw issue of animal abandonment and neglect.”

But the challenges persist to this day, and the logistics are increasingly complex, as Aimee and her team continue to face headwinds from Covid, higher travel costs, fewer flights, and greater restrictions on traveling with animals. 

“We need more help now than we did in 2016 to get these dogs back to New England. We are always looking for volunteer travelers to bring some of the puppies back with them, and we are always looking for help fostering these dogs.” 

And even though Aimee welcomes community members getting involved in any way they can, she is quick to appreciate the reality of these dogs’ pasts and potential futures. 

“Rescue dogs are not for everyone. I think the mistake some people make is in thinking that these dogs will be the same as buying some pure breed for $3000. These dogs have unknown backstories, and many have never lived in homes. However, the majority of the dogs we take are surprisingly well-adjusted and I find that most adopters are stepping up to be part of the solution and understand that this might take some additional work once the dogs are placed.” 

“These trips also allow me to talk to students about poverty, and how some of these dogs wind up on the streets because their ‘owners’ had no other options. We are quick to villainize those who give up dogs, but after you see the situations on some of the islands, particularly after hurricanes, when everyone is just trying to look out for themselves and get off the island, you develop a much stronger sense of empathy towards others.”

“Besides,” Aimee reflects, temporarily back at home in Norwich, appreciating some much-needed down time in between rescue trips. “Every time I want to quit, I just remember that we’ve become excellent problem solvers.  To watch the students who have been working with me for years encounter a problem and come up with a resourceful solution without needing my help is just so rewarding.  To quit now would be heartbreaking because I know how much we’re helping.” Annie, proud mother of 4 “satito” whelps, none of which have yet to open their eyes on this new street-less world of theirs, looks up at Aimee lovingly and smiles.