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If Only C.A.R.E. Were Here Sooner!
By Bob Davidson, Canton
If only C.A.R.E. (perhaps it should stand for "Canton's Aristocratic Regulation Enforcers") had been here to help Native Americans, those who changed the character of their villages would have been told to sail away. Building what we now consider historic treasures to be protected and preserved would have been declared "ugly." Only tents would have been allowed.
If only C.A.R.E. had been around to protect what is now the charming historic village of Collinsville when the Collins boys built their ugly big-box factory building, those boys would have been tarred and feathered by the C.A.R.E. folks. Can you imagine—damming the river, demanding water rights and building low-income rental properties! Why, the whole rural character of Canton was at stake. Just look how it turned out.
If only C.A.R.E. had been formed to protect us from ourselves even a hundred years ago, Route 44 could still be just two lanes without gas stations, stores, Canton Village, and all those other convenient places to buy goods and services. Of course, there would be highway gridlock as people jammed Route 44 to shop in other towns.
If only C.A.R.E. had been here before a bunch of farmers got here. They could have prevented them from destroying the rural character of forests. Those trees would have been saved and we wouldn't have any of those big, ugly stone walls.
If only the C.A.R.E. "agency" had arrived in Canton first, it might still be the only thing in town. Now, that is one big and ugly and forever thought.
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