I am a direct descendent of a family that once had a guiding business, a blacksmithing business, and dreams for a future in what was once Dead River Plantation. Now it all lays underwater due to progress and the “need” to produce more hydro power for the rest of New England.

This state sacrificed the valley that was once residence to the Sampson /Burbank homestead.

For the same reason I stand in protest (of) power for others! But to sacrifice again? How coincidental that the top part of a farmhouse that once sat in that desecrated valley, now offers me the opportunity to enjoy the mountains that are under attack by the wind power industry today.

As a little girl I climbed Witham Mountain yearly with Uncle Pat Dunphy, placing a penny designating the year of the climb. We let the cows stop for water at the base of Watering Tub Mountain before herding them home. We would slip out of my grandmother’s house so early in the morning to go fishing along the little tributaries that lie at the bottom of those Highland mountains and get our 10-limit catch by sunrise.

When snowmobile trails were created by the bravest, we had hot dog roasts on Briggs and amazed ourselves when we could break the trail and master the climb to Burnt Hill with Dad’s Skidoos.

When I was growing up, electricity was not part of my life. My family had to sacrifice our land but not allowed the prize. I feel my family did a great job of coping, even though the hurt still lingered. In the summers of my youth the Burbank family would go back, sit on the family door rock and listen to my grandparents and dad tell stories about living in their beloved Dead River homestead, even walk some of the tar roads that would surface in the drought of summer.

The island you see standing bravely in the middle of Flagstaff Lake was once my grandmother’s treasure. A gift from her dad.

Now you are asking for the hills —my hills— to once again desecrate God’s creation. A gift from Him that I will never get back if this project goes through. The hills that I now share with my children and grandchildren. I love to take my students up to these mountains. What wonders these young folks will never have, if wind turbines take over.

We have had to learn to live with less so that we can have more of God’s gifts. Don’t let us be the sacrificial lambs again.

Big business has taken the wonderful Dead River valley.

Please don’t let them take the Highland mountains!

Vicki Burbank is a resident of Jefferson and a teacher in that area. She grew up and owns a farm in Lexington. Her grandparents were Gertrude and Alvah Dunphy of Highland Plantation.