A History of MACC
Although the name has changed from when the organization first came about in 1981, the mission has always had a singular purpose: to improve the economic climate and physical appearance of Morristown. The organization’s original name reflects that desire for change: Morrisville Action Corporation or MAC. That first group of residents focused on ways to bring the community together and one well known event they sponsored was a community night known as “MAC Night” full of fun activities and music. Another of MAC’s interests was the preservation of historic buildings throughout the downtown and village. Through help from the State Agency’s Development and Community Affairs, Division of Historic Preservation, and the graduate students of the Historic Preservation Program for the University of Vermont, the organization worked on a basic planning document. The group interviewed citizens to see what they wanted for the future of their town, studied and assessed the village’s history and architecture, reviewed the development laws and drew up a document called the Downtown Morrisville Preservation Plan.
Then in 1999 when the Morristown Select Board invited the Orton Family Foundation to sponsor one of their community forums in Morristown, MAC was primed to take part. The forum began with a viewing of a film about Morristown and was followed by a meeting to determine what were the priorities of Morristown residents. Judith Wrend and Joanne Harrison, who later started the town’s art center, River Arts, planned to attend just the film but ended up staying the whole day. “It was so exciting and engrossing,” Wrend said.
The four priorities that the town decided on that day are easily traceable to these concrete changes that have happened since then.
One, a desire to create a multi-generational community arts center which grew quickly into River Arts.
Two, focus on creating a trail system, today’s Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.
Three, out of the desire to preserve green space came the Morrisville Conservation Commission which is now a part of town government.
Four, a priority decided on that day was downtown revitalization and reinforcing MAC’s mission. As a result of the forum, the town created a downtown revitalization plan, and created the position of community coordinator to help achieve these priorities.
In 2003 MAC changed its name to MACC, Morristown Alliance for Culture and Commerce, to reflect the community’s desire for culture and art in addition to economic development. One of the more visible projects MACC has done over the years is the installation of the classic lamp posts lining Copley Avenue or as it is better known, High School Hill. These lamp posts are replicas of the lamp posts that used to line the streets of the town, at least two of which can be found relocated on Woods Edge Road in the village. Other examples are the historic walk in the village, sculptures, murals, and barn signs around Morristown.
MACC is a 501c3 that is a close partner with the Town of Morristown, currently, we are working with the town on the state program, Downtown Designation. Some of MACC’s ongoing and current projects focus on annual community-wide events including:
- Festival of Lights which features multiple indoor and outdoor family-friendly activities
- Rocktoberfest, featuring a chair auction of locally painted chairs (which are displayed around town for the summer prior to the auction) along with multiple vendors and organizational displays, performances and fun family activities
- Beautification microgrants for businesses.
- A new MACC website highlighting Morristown businesses, organizations and activities for residents and visitors
Installation of flowers, shrubs and trees on our streets and in our parks. MACC has installed a pollinator garden and more sustainable native plantings in addition to decorative plantings in our downtown.
MACC partners not only with the town government but also with other organizations and agencies working on grants and projects that align with MACC’s mission and 5 Year Strategic Plan.
When founding MACC members think about how MACC can serve the community in the future, there is a mix of comments that mirror those ideals that MACC focused on right from its beginning. A bigger arts presence and a balance on commercial development and green space and doing more to ‘save the green.’ Remembering the early days one founding board member said, “When I go back through the minutes, I think how did we ever get people to do this? It was just a labor of love.” As MACC looks forward, the sentiment reminds us that anything can be accomplished with a little bit of commitment.