Romaine Tenney

    I visited the site of my sister’s soon-to-be homestead recently… a lovely six acre plot where she and her husband will build a house and barn for her horses and I’m guessing, his chickens and a cow or two if he can get away with it.  It’s a farmstead they’ve both dreamed of for some time now, located in a lovely town full of big old homes from the 1800’s and farm land that stretches across the landscape very comfortably, as it has for hundreds of years. Scattered here and there  are  dilapidated old dairy barns no longer in use, which  always saddens me.  It’s clear that a rich agricultural way of life has all but vanished in this beautiful place.  Development is imminent.  The lot my sister will build on is in fact part of a development that divides up an old dairy farm .. the barn still standing, although empty.

   Inevitable?  I suppose.   Progress! … after all.  And Hey… my husband is a home builder…we are able to own this farm because he builds houses for a living.  What a hypocrite!    But is it always  truly progress? Are we losing more than we’re gaining in some of these instances?  I, for one, believe this to be true.

  I read a piece the other night that will not leave me, the man and his story I will never forget.  Writer Howard Mansfield wrote a heart wrenching article in Yankee Magazine about Romaine Tenney.  If you’ve got the time, I urge you to read this article,  click HERE.    I wish I knew the man.  I wish I could have helped.  This should not have been allowed to happen.   And yet it’s happening again, all these years later in a project called  Northern Pass …. you can read more about that HERE or in the current Yankee Magazine.

Picture taken just a week before the end of Romaine’s story.. 

 In the telling of the story of old man Tenney, there is always present that ominous word… Eminent Domain.  What gives any one for any reason the right to take away the life and livelihood, the roots, the history… the love of THEIR land, land their family has worked and cherished and lived on and by…   all in the name of progress?   When we treat people in this way, we regress substantially. 
I’ve traveled I-91 into Vermont.   Several times we’ve tread just inches over the ghost of Romaine Tenney and his farm… unknowing.  Next time, I will stop the car and step off the highway at Exit 8 and pay silent tribute to the man who loved that land… and tell him how very sorry I was to hear of his demise …. how much  his life mattered, how his way of life is not forgotten, and how maybe, just maybe someone important will read his story and finally HEAR him…. and  LEARN from it. 

12 thoughts on “Romaine Tenney”

  2. I look around the town where we have lived for the past 30+ years, and I see the 'progress' that has made it a shadow of what it formerly was. Things must grow and change … I get that. What I am sad about is that change often comes at the cost of families and history. A place's soul is lost when 'progress' marches too far. I mourn Mr. Tenney and his farm, and his way of life.

  4. I'm going to go read the story, but I had a friend whose family farm (14 kids) ended up under a cloverleaf, and it always makes me remember those who went before us.

  6. Back after reading the story… Karen, thank you for telling us about this man and his story. I cried for him as I read it.

  7. I love Romaine! What a story. Various emotions while reading it, smiles, anger, then sadness.
    Eminent domain,…..what a screwed up law that is.
    I would definitely make a stop there if in the area and think of him.
    Sad story, but thanks for sharing that.

  8. I just read Romaine's story and it was heart breaking. How many other stories like his don't we know about. Very hard to comprehend. So sad.
    Thank you Karen for forwarding this article.

  9. So sad. The whole Eminent Domain rule seems to be something so easily misused and lately, all too often. Thank you for sharing his story!

  10. I am off to read his story- I hope I can get through it- Thank you- your feelings about these things are much like my own-xo Diana

  11. Truly regretful story. I have no idea why they couldn't just bend that highway a little bit. I know a lot of people's property was taken like this, but this is one man who will live in infamy over it.

  12. Hi Karen,

    I just read the entire article. It's a sad story and one that didn't need to happen. What would it have hurt to have the highway take a slightly different path? Yes, this continues to happen in the name of progress. Forests are being ruined for lumber, entire mountain tops are being blown to bits to get at some coal that will burn and help increase the planet's temperature. All the while, ruining habitat for wildlife and humans alike. But oh, the progress and the almighty dollar is deemed to be far more valuable to the few who make the decisions. Shame on anybody that won't take the time to speak up and at least try to change the course of "progress" whether it's in your back yard or across the ocean. This is a soap box I could talk from for a longer time than there is room here in the comment section. Thanks for sharing the story of Mr. Tenney.

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