Joint Grant for Carthage, West Carthage another step to a closer relationship

CARTHAGE — Historically, the villages of West Carthage and Carthage were separated by two things, a river and a rivalry.

These days, the last remnant of that rivalry — although good-humored — seems to be the Turkey Bowl, a friendly flag football game between the two communities.

Beyond that, local leaders agree, tensions and hard feelings are being washed away as the municipalities combine their efforts on community-minded projects.

Recently, the villages were awarded a joint $400,000 Community Development Block Grant to repair 18 houses. Officials hope the award will further strengthen their working relationship.

"I think it's great. This is another program where we will be able to help both Carthage and West Carthage," said John F. McHugh, community development coordinator for the Economic Development Corporation of Carthage. "We have multiple communities and multiple organizations working together; that's why I think we've been so successful as of late. The funding agencies are taking notes on the cooperative efforts here."

EDCC CROSSES THE BRIDGE

The Economic Development Corporation of Carthage is funded through repayment of an Urban Development Action Grant given to the village in the late 1970s. The village lent the money to a developer who built the West End Dam hydroelectric facility. The repaid amount was about $1.8 million. The committee agreed that 60 percent of the total funds should stay inside the village and 40 percent could be used in surrounding areas.

In the past four years, however, more than 40 percent has gone to facilities in West Carthage. In 2004, $200,000 was lent to renovate the Veterans Affairs Clinic. Caskinette's Lofink Ford Mercury received a $150,000 loan in 2006. Earlier this year, the corporation lent $150,000 to the Pleasant Night Inn and in August the board agreed to a $25,000 loan for the Missing Link Snowmobile Club to build a storage shed at the West Carthage trail head.

"Fortunately for West Carthage, two projects, the VA clinic and the inn, would probably not have gone forward if it weren't for those funds," Carthage President G. Wayne McIlroy said. "The EDCC board felt that these projects had to be done for the betterment of the whole community and, one way or another, they would benefit both villages."

West Carthage Mayor Scott M. Burto said his village and the state are considering a shared police service between Carthage and West Carthage. He said his board hopes to hire a firm this week that will investigate the benefits of combining police services.

"From our standpoint, our village has grown over the years," Mr. Burto said. "We're looking at future development along Broad Street and as our community gets bigger we have a need for additional police protection. The village of Carthage has also cut back due to budget issues; maybe it's time to look at our options before we move forward."

FROM WATER TO WATERFRONT

In the early 1990s, both villages faced purchasing water filters to clean the public water supply.

A citizens committee was formed and eventually decided that the water and sewer services should be combined, a move that has benefited both villages, Mr. McIlroy said.

"Overall, this was a great savings for both villages," he said. "We share the maintenance, which is the big thing. When the committee looked at the options, this just made more sense in favor than against."

The villages also are planning projects to develop the waterfront, creating walking trails by the river and working together to further enhance the Carthage Farmers Market, Riverside Drive.

Mr. Burto said he hopes to see continued joint equipment purchases and each village assisting the other's department of public works crews.

HISTORY OF THE RIVALRY

Fostering these shared-services relationships has come a long way.

Lynn M. Thornton, West Carthage, area historian and author of "Images of America: Around Carthage and West Carthage," said she believes the rivalry between the villages began before the village of West Carthage was incorporated in 1889.

"The Carthage Fire Department couldn't cross the bridge to assist without getting permission from the governing body," she said, talking about a time before the great fire of 1884. "A lot of houses burnt down. Talk about being stupid. It showed such a disservice to both communities."

While things didn't change overnight, Mrs. Thornton said, working together really began in 1954, when the West Carthage school burned down. Rather than rebuild, a consolidated school district was formed.

Just this past year, alumni of the two schools before the consolidation formed the Twin Village High Schools Alumni Association. It no longer mattered whether you were a Carthage Panther or a West Carthage Lion.

"There are a lot of old friends back and forth on both sides of the river," said Donald H. Brown, co-president of the Twin Villages High School Alumni Association and 1952 graduate of West Carthage High School. "This is quite an accomplishment."

He said many of his classmates have died and the old rivalries just didn't seem important anymore.

"I think it's wonderful," Mrs. Thornton said. "Those kinds of things should be encouraged and promoted. It's time to put all the animosity some people feel aside and move forward together."

Terry L. Roche moved to the Carthage area in 1986 and served as commander of Fort Drum for two years until he retired. Mr. Roche is now a member of multiple economic organizations. He said he no longer sees a need for the division.

"Each village may have their own perspective and the people have their own idea on how things are and how they ought to be, but it seems to me that much of it has gone away," Mr. Roche said.

"Regardless of how you draw the political boundaries, we are one community, we go to the same churches, our kids go to school together, we share the same grocery stores and we drink the same water."