The following profiles are of little-known MOTHER EARTH NEWS-type folks from all over.
Bill and Marie Carignan: Readyville Mill
When
Bill and Marie Carignan purchased Readyville Mill in 1973, the
161-year-old company was in the process of some extensive restoration.
Traditional buhrstones–operated by means of a water-powered turbine–had
been installed as a replacement for the more modern steel rollers,
allowing the millers to grind grain as it had been ground a century
before. But there was much work left for the Carignans to tackle.
Though the business prospered, the renovation expenses quickly mounted
to a point far beyond the family’s means.
Then,
in 1977, Bill and Marie were offered an opportunity to sell the
historic business to a man who had the resources necessary to complete
the restoration. Reluctantly, they went through with the sale. With the
money from that transaction, the couple was able to set up two bakeries,
selling flour, grain, meal, grits, cereal, bran, pancake mix,
home-baked bread, and cheese, all made from ingredients produced within
their own community. Meanwhile, the family watched the mill closely to
see that reconstruction went as planned.
They
were sorry to see that it didn’t. Instead, repairs–and eventually
business–came to a halt, so the Carignans set out to buy back the
property. Bill and Marie hope to raise the funds they’ll need through
the sale of the family’s whole grain bakery products and a cookbook
called From the Miller’s Table, published by Marie in 1973.
“We’re going to do our best to see to it, once and for all,” says Marie,
“that Readyville Mill is completely restored! “-JV.
Gary Hale: Custom Bicycle Frames
Gary
Hale makes his living building custom bicycle frames, a job that
normally requires a good bit of expensive, energy-consuming equipment.
But you won’t find any electricity guzzling machines in this
craftsman’s workshop, because the Cheshire, Oregon entrepreneur has
outfitted his business with hand and foot-powered tools!
Hale’s
shop boasts a homemade, pedal-powered milling machine that miters tubes
so they can be brazed together properly. The device runs at the same
rate (150 RPM) as does its electric equivalent, and a five-speed cog
allows the operator to pedal in a comfortable gear. In addition, Gary
uses a turn-of-the-century, hand-run drill press …a piece of equipment
that is–thanks to its simple construction–both easy and inexpensive to maintain.
Gary
charges $575 each for his custom made frames and is now beginning to
add to the income from such sales by producing replicas of his
human-powered mitering machine for market, as well (they’re priced at $900 apiece, equipped with a rotary cable).–Ted P. Eugenis
Charles and Louise Tillotson: Ousted by IPALCO and Eminent Domain
Eleven years ago Charles and Louise Tillotson purchased 400 acres of fertile Indiana land on the banks of a scenic and placid stretch of the Ohio River, in preparation for their retirement. It was to be their retreat, a refuge from the delirium of the big city …but the couple soon discovered that madness will sometimes reach into the country, too.
In January of 1976, representatives from the Indianapolis Power and Light Co. (IPALCO) informed the Tillotsons that the utility needed their land as a site for its new power plant. Though the couple had no desire to sell the farm, they found that they had no choice in the matter because Indiana’s eminent domain laws give utilities the right to take whatever land they want. And, since there’s no state controlling board, folks like Charles and Louise have no way to appeal an IPALCO decision.
So the Tillotsons testified before the state legislature in an attempt to reform the antiquated laws, but the situation remained essentially unchanged. When the couple arranged for their 125-year-old farmhouse to be listed on the National Register of Historical Places, IPALCO simply designed a plant that could be constructed around the dwelling. Finally–two years ago–the utility sought a court order to force the Tillotsons from their land, leaving only the value of the seized property still pending in the courts.
Ironically, IPALCO has yet to build on the proposed site, since the use of electricity in the area has fallen far below expected levels. But if the plant is constructed, Charles and Louise note sadly, the river valley is sure to become an energy corridor that will ship power miles away and strew pollution and ruin all along its path.–Dale Maharidge.
In Brief…
Seventy-year-old MYRON SILTON recently published a 30-page directory listing of alternative cancer-treatment programs. Silton’s non-profit organization–Aid for Cancer Victims–requests a $10 (tax deductible) donation for the handbook, which is titled International Directory of Alternative Cancer Tests and Therapies. Myron strongly urges that folks who are unable to make the $10 donation include at least $1.00 to cover the cost of first-class postage.
MIKE SHETLEY of Oak Hill, Florida is experimenting with a two-chemical additive for vegetable oil fuel. Shetley–whose diesel-engined Mercury Capri has run about 5,000 miles on corn and soybean oil–hopes that restaurant owners will supply him with fryer refuse in exchange for a portion of his finished fuel product.
For more than a decade now a ferryboat-turned-hospital called the ESPERANÇA has been furnishing health care and education to more than 200,000 people in Brazil. The project–which was started on a small motorboat by the late Dr. Lucas Tupper–is funded by donations that are made to Esperança, Inc., a non-profit foundation based in Phoenix, Arizona.
In December 1979 MILLY ZANTOW and JENNY EHL formed a company called E-Z Recycling for the purpose of alleviating Sauk County, Wisconsin’s landfill problems. The women marketed 67,547 pounds of glass, 38,908 pounds of metal, 30,690 pounds of cardboard, 29,898 pounds of plastic, and 13,400 pounds of newsprint during their first 12 months in business.–J.V.
