Some call it Pilltown, I call it Paradise

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KRISTA CAMPBELL
WITTICISMS and CRITICISMS

I live in Milltown. To Courier readers who live outside the realm of St. Stephen and/or Calais, that bold statement may not mean much. To them, Milltown may be no more than a place to drive hastily through on the way to that other border. But for locals, Milltown has often been the scapegoat for all that is wrong with this area. Upon admitting my humble address, I am often regarded with pity, as people look at me doubtfully and say, “Do you, really?”
Sometimes referred to by its less-than-flattering nickname, “Pilltown”, my neighborhood has been linked to drug dealers, alcoholics, and whatever constitutes organized crime around these parts. Milltown is the “bad” part of town.
Even though Milltown is really a part of St. Stephen it has always had its own separate identity, and colourful personality. It probably started with the first folks who lived in this part of town – the mill workers. They worked at the cotton mill and many of them lived nearby; they were simple, working-class folks who worked hard and likely played hard, too.
But times have changed, and so has Milltown. Anyone driving through this part of town now would never suspect it has any sort of reputation. In contrast, a drive down the main street of St. Stephen can be a sobering experience. The gaping, blank-eyed store-fronts, mangled, muddy streets, and air heavy with the exhaust fumes of cars sitting in long border line-ups are enough to make anyone just keep on driving.
As that drive continues along Milltown Boulevard, there is a perceptible change in the air – it seems fresher, purer somehow. If Milltown begins at Buchanan’s Hill, the first sight the “town” offers is right at the top. Dover Hill Park combines colourful, exotic flowerbeds with rustic paths leading to scenic views of the St. Croix River. It’s where starry-eyed couples get their wedding pictures taken and is one of four green spaces in Milltown. The tree lined street beyond (most streets in Milltown are tree-lined) boasts a parade of Victorian homes, each with immaculate lawns, perfectly-trimmed shrubbery, and glorious flowerbeds. Milltown Boulevard then lazily weaves past more stately houses and the monument to our mill workers, made all the more impressive by the lovely landscaping surrounding it. Directly below is the picturesque dam and hydro-electric station where the water will be gurgling and splashing in a most refreshing way, as it always does.
On the left is the jewel in Milltown’s crown, a stunning recreational area, which incorporates a basketball court, two baseball diamonds, another of our well-kept green spaces, a children’s playground, and the new swimming pool. On any given day this spot is crowded with children and families sliding in the winter, and playing games and swimming in the summer. Milltown residents take great pride in this spiffy addition to our humble berg. Though there was a problem with vandalism when the pool was first being built, I suspect it may have been the work of frustrated St. Stephen youngsters, who were jealous of Milltown’s new addition. In fact, with the elegantly understated Milltown Elementary School positioned right alongside these amenities, that part of town now resembles a posh Algonquin-like resort. I’m surprised more tourists don’t cruise down the winding driveway and try to check in for the night!
Any practical needs like snacks or a bathroom break are easily taken care of at the Milltown Irving, which has everything anyone could possibly need, including newspapers, magazines, a bank-machine, coffee, movies, slushies, and most important of all, helpful, friendly staff. A right turn at the Irving reveals another green space, and tennis courts. Further down Milltown Boulevard is the Charlotte County Museum, which is the main historical attraction in our region. That’s right, St. Stephen, Milltown has culture, too!
One of the best things about Milltown, though, is that everything is within walking distance for everyone who lives here. It’s not unusual to see children coming from the pool with wet towels draped around their necks, or young couples pushing a stroller and eating an ice-cream they got at the Irving. As environmental issues become more of a concern and gas prices continue to climb, we here in Milltown will be happy to stay right where we are.
When I walk my dog we pass well-kept homes with bright green lawns and colourful gardens. People wave “hello” and smile as we pass. On any summer evening the air is full of the chirping of birds, the hum of lawnmowers, and distinctive smell of a barbecue, just like every other neighborhood.
Ozzie and Harriet themselves couldn’t have dreamed of a better place to live.